1942 Map of Allentown West

About this map

Blue Mountain and the prominent Bake Oven Knob anchor the northern reaches of this landscape, overlooking a dense network of farming townships and early industrial settlements in the years leading into the Second World War. The area is defined by its numerous small schoolhouses, such as the Mantz Sch and Hynemansville Sch, and its religious centers like Ziegels Ch. Settlement patterns follow the winding paths of Jordan Creek and Little Lehigh Creek, where the Reading Railroad and Ironton Railroad once connected local commerce to the larger Pennsylvania markets. Significant landmarks of the era include the Trexler Game Preserve and the Trexler Orchard Pack House, alongside established institutions like Cedar Crest College and the Lehigh County Home. From the crossroads at Leather Corner Post to the varied small villages like Fogelsville and New Smithville, the map reveals a meticulously surveyed view of Lehigh and Berks counties before post-war suburban expansion.