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1959 Map of Oliver Lake

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of Oliver Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1961
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1961

About this map

Indian Lakes and the surrounding marshlands of LaGrange and Noble counties define this glacial landscape, captured here as it appeared in the late 1950s. The chain of water bodies, including Oliver Lake, Dallas Lake, and Witmer Lake, supported a thriving recreation economy evidenced by the presence of Purdue University Limberlost Camp, a YWCA Camp, and Camp Okalona. The mapping reflects a period when the Pennsylvania and Wabash railroads still traversed the countryside, connecting small settlements like Wolcottville and Valentine to larger regional markets.

Local family history is preserved through numerous rural landmarks, such as the Taylor Sch and Sand Hill Sch, alongside several small burial grounds including Miller Cem and Osborn Cem. The complex hydrology of the region is meticulously detailed, showing the North Branch Elkhart River and numerous small holes and ponds like Holsinger Hole and Pond Lil, illustrating how the wet terrain dictated the placement of early roads and farmsteads.