1955 Map of Witch Lake

About this map

The Michigamme State Forest and Iron Range State Forest dominate this Upper Peninsula landscape, where a dense network of glacial lakes and wetlands defined early 20th-century isolation. Two major rail lines, the Chicago and North Western and the Milwaukee St Paul and Pacific, parallel each other along the eastern edge, serving the small settlement of Witbeck. This corridor was essential for moving timber and ore out of the Republic township region, contrasting with the nearly roadless interior to the west. Small seasonal communities and sportsman landmarks like Witch Lake and Fence Lake punctuate the woods, while numerous water bodies like Sundog Lake and Chief Lake suggest the difficult, marshy terrain that governed local land use. This survey captures a moment of quiet industrial transition in the woods of Marquette and Iron counties.