1942 Map of Rattle Run

About this map

The Belle River and Pine River wind through the township of China in this survey based on fieldwork from the late 1930s. The landscape is defined by a dense network of one-room schoolhouses that once served these rural farming communities, including Kennedy Sch, Wright Sch, and Bell Sch. The small settlement of Rattle Run sits in the northwest, while the industrial and residential edges of St Clair and East China occupy the eastern portion of the sheet. Genealogists will find significant value in the documentation of local burial grounds like St Marys Cem and Balfour Cem, as well as the namesake Town Hall located near the river at the junction of Lindsey Road. The intricate drainage system, shown through features like Sheldon Drain and Wolf Drain, illustrates the extensive land management required for agriculture in this part of St. Clair County.