1945 Map of Arena

About this map

Arena and the high peaks of the Catskill Park define this landscape during the mid-1940s, a period when the topography of the region was being reshaped by large-scale water projects. The northwestern corner is dominated by the Pepacton Reservoir, which inundated former valley communities along the East Branch Delaware River. Traces of the older infrastructure remain visible, such as the Old Railroad Grade winding through the valley near the Gaging Station. Moving south into the Hardenbergh region, the map reveals a more isolated pattern of high-altitude settlement. Small hamlets like Turnwood and Grant Mills are connected by narrow roads following the Beaver Kill and Mill Brook. The presence of School No 8 and numerous small lakes like Alder Lake and Beecher Lake suggests a community structure built around mountain agriculture and early recreational retreats within the vast Forest Preserve.