Loading map...

1897 Map of Paradox Lake

Name: 1897 Topographic Map of Paradox Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1914
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1914

About this map

Hammondville and the nearby mining-related settlement of Ironville stand as prominent industrial landmarks in this 1890s Adirondack interior. The landscape is a complex network of high peaks and interconnected water systems, centered on the elongated Paradox Lake and the high elevation of Pharaoh Mt.. The presence of the AND H. R. R. (Abandoned) line near Ironville illustrates the shifting economic tides of the late 19th century, as early iron ore transport routes were already being left behind.

Settlement patterns are concentrated along the valleys, with hamlets like Paradox, Severance, and North Hudson serving as gateways to the wilderness. To the south, the village of Graphite points toward the specialized mineral extraction that defined the local economy alongside timber. The map also records numerous smaller water bodies such as Chilson Lake and Hammond Pond, which were vital for early mills and local transport before modern road networks dominated the region.