Loading map...

1901 Map of Old Forge

Name: 1901 Topographic Map of Old Forge
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1937
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1937

About this map

Old Forge serves as the focal point for this wilderness survey, situated where the Adirondack Division and Fulton Chain RR meet the waters of the North Branch Moose River. The landscape is dominated by the intricate Fulton Chain of Lakes, including First Lake, Second Lake, Third Lake, and Fourth Lake, which were already being navigated by a designated Steamboat Route. The distribution of Mountain Lodge, Bisby Lodge, and various camps like Proctor Camp and Finch Camp indicates an era when this region of Herkimer County was transitioning into a premier destination for sportsmen and early Adirondack tourism.

Away from the rail lines, the terrain rises sharply toward Bald Mountain and Panther Mountain, with remote outposts like Atwell and Honneda appearing near South Lake and Honneda Lake. The presence of Swanson Dam on the West Canada Creek drainage reflects early water management and industrial footprints in the deep woods. This survey documents the specific arrangement of seasonal camps and logging-era infrastructure before later 20th-century developments altered the character of these isolated settlements.