1915 Map of Number Four

About this map

Oswegatchie River and its multiple branches define this intricate hydrologic landscape on the border of Lewis and Herkimer counties. The map, based on surveys from 1910-1912, reveals an area shaped by both natural drainage and early industrial water management. While the terrain is dominated by a dense network of ponds and lakes such as Lyons Lake and Upper South Pond, the hand of man is visible in infrastructure like the Soft Maple Dam and Beech Dam. These features, along with the Silver Mine Dam, suggest a history of managing water power in a region where elevation changes are marked by landmarks like Eagle Falls and Stillwater Mtn. Geographers R.B. Marshall and Frank Sutton oversaw this detailed record of the wilderness just before more modern developments reached this part of the Adirondacks.