1954 Map of Pelkie

About this map

The Sturgeon River and Otter River wind through the heart of the Copper Country in this mid-century survey of the boundary between Houghton and Baraga counties. The Finnish heritage of the region is evident in the cluster of small farming communities and rural landmarks, including the settlements of Pelkie, Tapiola, and Elo. The landscape is dominated by the sprawling timberlands of the Baraga State Forest and Ottawa National Forest, punctuated by the distinct elevation of Limestone Mountain and several small rural cemeteries like Askel Cem and Kani Cem. Transportation in the 1950s relied on the Duluth South Shore and Atlantic Railroad, which cuts through the southern terrain toward the village of Baraga. This map documents a period of transition for these remote northern Michigan outposts, recording the exact locations of country schoolhouses like Tapiola Sch and neighborhood churches like Kyro Ch before later consolidation.