1938 Map of Minocqua

About this map

Minocqua and Woodruff anchor this 1938 look at Wisconsin's Northwoods, where the transition from timber extraction to a recreational economy is evident. The landscape is dominated by glacial water bodies, from the sprawling Big St Germain Lake to the complex chain of lakes surrounding the Minocqua Country Club. Transportation networks define the era, with the Chicago Milwaukee ST Paul And Pacific and Chicago And Northwestern railroads cutting through the timberland. Local education is decentralized, evidenced by isolated country schoolhouses like Hall Sch and Faulkner Sch. The presence of the Lake Tomahawk Fire Tower and Muskellunge Fire Tower highlights the period's active forest fire surveillance, while the State Farm and Plum Lake Golf Course near Sayner show the diverse land use as the region became a premier destination for seasonal camps and sportsmen.