1897 Map of Paradox Lake

About this map

Hammondville and Ironville anchor this 1895 survey of the Adirondack interior, revealing a landscape defined by 19th-century resource extraction and early mountain tourism. The terrain is marked by a complex network of peaks including Pharaoh Mt. and Nippletop Mt., with the drainage of the Schroon River and the expansive Lake Paradox serving as primary landmarks. An industrial presence is visible in the southeastern corner at Graphite, while the infrastructure of the late 1800s is evidenced by the C. and H. R. R. Abandoned line near Ironville. Small settlements like Schroon Falls, Severance, and Chilson appear as isolated hubs along emerging mountain roads. The map also captures several distinct water bodies such as Hammond Pond and Berrymill Pond, illustrating the intricate hydrology that supported local iron and graphite interests before the region's full shift toward conservation.