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1897 Map of Schroon Lake

Name: 1897 Topographic Map of Schroon Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1941
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1941

About this map

Schroon Lake and its surrounding wilderness are captured here during a period of transition in the Adirondacks, just as the region was being formally protected within the park boundaries. The settlement pattern reflects a reliance on the water, with clusters at Olmstedville and Loch Muller, while the southern end of the lake features the Steamboat Route connecting Taylors on Schroon and South Schroon. This era was defined by the logging industry, evidenced by Brace Dam and Lester Dam along the Boreas River, which were essential for managing timber drives.

The topography is dominated by high peaks and ridges, including Hoffman Mt. and Nippletop Mt., with deep notches and interior valleys like those around Hewitt Pond. Family-named landmarks such as Snyder Hill and Merrills Hill suggest the scattered homesteads of the late nineteenth century. The map also traces early transportation corridors like the Blue Ridge Road, which provided vital overland access through the dense mountainous terrain.