1953 Map of Ashland

About this map

Centralia and the surrounding anthracite coal country are depicted here during a pivotal era of transition, documented across 1953 fieldwork and photorevisions from the late 1960s and mid-1970s. The landscape is defined by the heavy footprint of industry, characterized by extensive Mine Dumps and tailings that crowd the valley floors alongside Mahanoy Creek and Shenandoah Creek. The urban layout of Ashland and Girardville reveals a dense network of residential streets and rail lines, including the Conrail system, reflecting the area's role as a production hub. Higher elevations along Locust Mountain and Conyngham Mountain provide a stark contrast to the industrial valleys. Notable local landmarks such as the Centralia Fire Tower, Miners Hospital, and the Immaculate Heart Academy serve as vital community anchors. Smaller settlements like Byrnsville, Locustdale, and Lavelle are clearly delineated, offering genealogists and local historians a precise look at the built environment before later landscape changes.