1957 Map of Midway

About this map

Agricultural life in the late 1950s is defined by a dense network of country schoolhouses and parish churches across the plains of southeastern South Dakota. The township of Molan and parts of Salem, Jamesville, and Mayfield show a landscape meticulously partitioned by section lines, where community life centered on landmarks like Independence Sch, Salem Ch, and Morningstar Sch. Small bodies of water such as Ulmer Lake and Guthmiller Lake provide natural breaks in the grid, while Clay Creek and Mud Creek meander toward the southern border near the settlement of Midway. The presence of numerous family-named institutions, including Schaeffer Sch and Ulmer Cem, offers a detailed look at the rural social geography before the widespread consolidation of small school districts and congregations.