I have had good luck using Sanborn Maps to research Businesses, not
trackage. The maps show extensive detail related to buildings, including
names and changes.
The Iowa collection can be found at the U of Iowa library, as well as the
State Historical Society in both Iowa City and Des Moines. All three sources
have Sanborn Maps for Iowa dating back to the 1860's (back then some were
the Iowa Fire Insurance Company). The fiche covers the 1930's, well be watch
out because apparently in the 30's Sanborn began issue tissue overlays
instead of new maps. Insurance agents were to paste the overlays on their
maps hidding old structures and thus showing new structures. New a notation
was made as to when the map was updated. I have photocopies of 30's vintage
maps that were updated this way into the early 70's. As tissue is
transparent the fiche some shows the outline of the underlying building, or
does not clearly show the contents of the tissue overlay.
Maps can be found in local libraries for the community where the library is
located. Insurance Agents may have old ones in their offices. The micro
fiche version can usually be found at major research libraries and
historical societies. Also the National Archives has the entire country on
file. I am sure the offer the coping option as well. A friend of mine had
good luck with Interlibrary Loan where they sent him the actual fiche for an
out of state location he wanted to research.
Doug Harding
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