1951 Map of Lake Bonaparte

About this map

Camp Drum Military Reservation occupies a massive portion of this 1951 landscape, its boundary lines cutting across the rugged Adirondack transition zone. The settlement of Balmat and the waters of Sylvia Lake anchor the north, while the southern reaches are dominated by the intricate shoreline of Lake Bonaparte. This survey captures the region just as the 1950s began, illustrating the crossroads at Rices Corners and Kellogg Corners. The map details a complex hydrology where the Indian River and Indian Lake meet a series of smaller bodies like Narrow Lake and Mud Lake. Local history is preserved in the placement of a rural Cemetery and the remnants of the settlement at Alpina, located near the northern edge of the military reservation. The terrain is marked by distinct points like Bentons Point and Bullrock Point, which define the recreational and residential character of the larger lakes.