1948 Map of Voltaire

About this map

The Minneapolis St Paul and Sault Ste Marie railroad cuts a straight path across the southern plains of McHenry County, anchoring the small settlement of Voltaire. This late-1940s landscape is defined by the winding meanders of the Souris River in the north and a scattered collection of glacial prairie potholes, including Stink Lake and Lake Hester. The map reveals a highly structured rural community organized into townships like Lebanon and Voltaire. Local genealogy and social history are well-preserved through the inclusion of several country schools such as Howe Sch and Roach Sch, alongside community hubs like Hjerdal Ch. The presence of the Walley Cem and Westgard Cem near the river bluffs provides specific points of interest for family historians tracing the early settlers of this North Dakota prairie region.