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1942 Map of Ashokan

Name: 1942 Topographic Map of Ashokan
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1960
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1960

About this map

The Ashokan Reservoir dominates the landscape of Ulster County in this wartime-era survey, reflecting the massive infrastructure changes made to secure New York City's water supply. The Ashokan Dam stands as the central engineering feature, separating the west and east basins. To the north of the water, the New York Central railroad tracks skirt the shoreline, passing through the settlements of Shokan and Ashokan. This rail line once provided vital transport through the Catskill region before the flooding of the valley transformed local geography.

Rural life in the mid-20th century is evident through the dense network of one-room schoolhouses scattered across the townships of Olive, Hurley, and Marbletown. Facilities like the Lower Spillway Sch, Atwood Sch, and Vly Sch served small farming communities such as Atwood and Lomontville. Further south, the Acorn Hill Chapel and the small hamlet of Olivebridge mark established local centers nestled near the Esopus Creek and Rochester Creek drainage areas.