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1950 Map of Spirit Falls

Name: 1950 Topographic Map of Spirit Falls
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1957
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1957

About this map

The Spirit River and Wisconsin River dominate this mid-century survey of Lincoln County, where the transition from industrial logging to managed forest is visible in the landscape. Significant river infrastructure appears at Grandfather Falls, where the Grandfather Dam and Power Plant harness the current. The map documents numerous remote outpost camps like Natzke Camp, Camp 25, and Camp 27, alongside small centers like Spirit Falls and New Wood.

Logistical history is preserved through an extensive network of fire lanes and the Old Railroad Grade north of the river. Educational sites are frequently marked, including several noted as defunct, such as Gladfelter Sch (Abandoned) and Bay Mill Sch (Abandoned). From the Zenith Lookout Tower to the banks of Lake Mohawksin, this record captures a time when the northern Wisconsin interior was defined by hydroelectric development and the enduring footprint of the lumber era.