1939 Map of Winchester

About this map

Glacial lakes and wetlands dominate the landscape of Vilas and Iron counties in the late 1930s, reflecting a period of conservation and early tourism in the Northern Highland State Forest. The presence of a CCC Camp near Winchester and the Rest Lake Fire Tower No 51 highlights the New Deal era labor and fire protection infrastructure that shaped these Northwoods. While the Chicago and Northwestern railroad skirts the northeastern corner, the interior is connected by a growing network of fire lanes and trunk highways. Small rural institutions such as Spider Lake Sch and Birch Lake Sch served the scattered populations near Manitowish and Powell. Local landmarks like Shay Dam on the Turtle River and the Winegar Cem provide specific points of interest for genealogists and local historians tracking early settlement and industry.