1953 Map of Savannah

About this map

Montezuma Marsh dominates the southeastern quadrant of this mid-century survey, illustrating a landscape defined by its complex water systems. The Erie Canal and the Clyde River snake through the center of the sheet, paralleling the New York Central railroad corridor. This transport-heavy alignment reflects the area's legacy as a vital east-west thoroughfare in upstate New York. In the north and west, the terrain rises into distinct hills like Kelsey Hill and Messner Hill, separated by a grid of rural roads and family-named landmarks such as Noble Corner and Kelsey Corners. The southern portion contains the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, where the Old Erie Canal remains visible as a relic of earlier commerce. Genealogists will find numerous rural burial grounds, including the Herrington Cem and Maple Grove Cem, documenting the long-standing settlements of the Galen and Savannah townships.