1952 Map of Lacarne

About this map

Lake Erie defines the northern shoreline of this Ottawa County coastal landscape, where the marshy terrain between the Toussaint River and Portage River has been extensively modified for military and industrial use by the early 1950s. The sprawling Erie Ordnance Depot and adjacent Camp Perry dominate the eastern marshes, complete with numerous Observation Towers positioned for shoreline monitoring. Local history and genealogy are preserved in small community markers like Locust Point Cem and Rushow Cem, while the New York Central railroad provides the primary east-west corridor through the village of Lacarne. This survey reveals the transition of the shoreline from seasonal vacation spots like Long Beach to the heavy logistical footprints required for post-war defense operations along the Great Lakes.