1943 Map of Sears Pond

About this map

Deer River and its numerous tributaries, including Luther Creek and McNeil Creek, define the landscape of this rural upstate New York region during the early 1940s. The area is characterized by a high density of small rural schools, such as School Nos 3 & 8 and School No 9, reflecting the distributed nature of the upland dairy and logging communities in the towns of Montague and Martinsburg. Tiny settlements like Hooker and Parkers served as local hubs, while Sears Pond and the extensive marshy headwaters of the Mad River system illustrate the poorly drained plateau geography. The mapping of Mill Stream and Grindstone Bk suggests a legacy of water-powered industry in these remote woods.