1949 Map of Matchwood NW

About this map

The Ottawa National Forest dominates this section of the Upper Peninsula, where the landscape is defined by the drainage of the Ontonagon River and its various branches. Surveyed shortly after World War II, the map reveals a wilderness area sparingly marked by human activity, such as the isolated Mac Intosh Cabin and a lone Artesian Well. The steep terrain is highlighted by the presence of the Norwich Lookout Tower on a high ridge, which served as a critical vantage point for fire detection in the timber-heavy region. Water is the primary feature of the geography here, from the rushing Cascade Falls to the meandering paths of Town Line Creek and the Cranberry River. Small industrial markers, including several Gravel Pits, indicate the local materials used for road building in this remote forest interior.