1955 Map of Wakefield

About this map

The iron mining legacy of the Gogebic Range is evident across this mid-century survey of Wakefield, where deep industrial scars and urban infrastructure define the landscape. Centered on Sunday Lake, the city is surrounded by massive Mine Dumps and active operations such as the Sunday Lake Mine and the Loomis Mine west of the city center. The Chicago and North Western railroad provides the primary industrial artery, winding through the valley to serve the local settlements of Ramsay, Plymouth, and Verona. South of the city limits, the terrain shifts abruptly into the densely wooded expanse of the Ottawa National Forest, where the Black River and Little Black River meander through marshy lowlands. This map captures the town's peak industrial footprint, from the High Sch and City Hall to the outlying Ramsay Lookout Tower and Lakeside Cem.