1951 Map of Lake Bonaparte

About this map

The Camp Drum Military Reservation dominates this northern New York landscape, its boundaries cutting across the borders of St. Lawrence, Jefferson, and Lewis counties. This 1951 survey documents a transition in land use, where former agricultural tracts and small settlements like Alpina and Kellogg Corners are enclosed within the expanding military territory. The southern portion of the map is defined by the complex shoreline of Lake Bonaparte, featuring prominent landmarks like Hitchcock Bay, Bullrock Point, and Birch Island. The intricate waterway system, including the Indian River, Mud Lake, and Narrow Lake, illustrates the post-war character of the Adirondack foothills, balancing state-controlled military terrain with the established recreation and small-scale industry around Sylvia Lake and the settlement of Balmat.