1957 Map of Telos Lake

About this map

The remote West East Letter Series (WELS) townships of Piscataquis County are defined by a complex network of glacial lakes and logging infrastructure as they appeared in the late 1950s. At the heart of the sheet lies Telos Lake and the Telos Dam, a critical site for managing water flow between the Chamberlain Lake system and the E Branch Penobscot R. The landscape transitions from the aquatic expanse of the Arm of Chamberlain Lake to the mountainous terrain of the east, where the Baxter State Park Boundary encloses high points like Center Mtn and Burnt Mtn. Settlement is nearly non-existent, represented primarily by Camp Phoenix and a series of primitive transport routes such as the Old Tote Road and various jeep trails. This survey documents the area's transition into a managed wilderness, balancing historic timber-driving routes with early conservation efforts near the park's edge.