1938 Map of Robbins

About this map

Robbins and the surrounding lake country of the Sugar Camp region are captured here in a period of rural development between the world wars. The landscape is defined by an intricate network of waterways, including Plum Lake, Lost Lake, and Muskellunge Lake, which served as the backdrop for early recreational and timber-related activity. A dense concentration of small country schoolhouses like the Bohemian Sch, Muskellunge Sch, and Crocker Sch indicates a distributed population of homesteaders and workers prior to mid-century school consolidation. Infrastructure of the era is evident along the Rhinelander River and at the Otter Rapids Dam, while the presence of the Otter Rapids Golf Course points toward the burgeoning northwoods tourism industry. This survey documents the transition of the region from a wilder frontier toward a more structured map of townships and rural communities.