1948 Map of Voltaire

About this map

The Souris River meanders through the northern reaches of this landscape, its complex loops and oxbows defining the geography of McHenry County shortly after World War II. The settlement of Voltaire anchors the southern portion of the sheet, situated along the tracks of the Minneapolis St Paul and Sault Ste Marie railroad. This rail corridor was essential to the movement of grain and local resources, connecting the prairie to larger markets. Scattered across the surrounding townships are signs of early community life, including the Hjerdal Ch, Howe Sch, and Roach Sch, alongside the Westgaard Cem and Valley Cem. The landscape is punctuated by numerous bodies of water like Lake Hester and Stink Lake, reflecting the glacial history of the region and providing critical landmarks for rural residents and genealogists tracing family land in the Hendrickson and Lebanon districts.