1959 Map of Reading

About this map

The town of Reading serves as a hub in this southern Michigan landscape, marked by its position along the New York Central railroad. Agricultural drainage patterns are evident through named systems like the Meade Drain and Prouty Drain, which feed into the St Joseph River. These waterworks reflect the intensive land use of the late 1950s, supporting a countryside dotted with small rural education and religious centers. Notable sites for local history include the Amish Sch, West Woodbridge Ch, and the Camden-Frontier Sch. The southern portion of the map is particularly rich in family-named burial grounds like Devine Cem and Sheldon Cem, while the Cambria Millpond at Cambria suggests the importance of water-based industry in the township's development. Glacial features such as Bear Lake and Cub Lake highlight the area's natural topography amidst the surveyed farm plots.