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1943 Map of Ashokan

Name: 1943 Topographic Map of Ashokan
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1944
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1944

About this map

The Ashokan Reservoir dominates this wartime landscape, its massive footprint shaping the surrounding communities of Olive, Hurley, and Marbletown. Developed during an era of significant infrastructure expansion, the map reveals the complex water management system of the day, including the B WS Pump Station and specialized facilities like the Spillway School and Lower Spillway School. The New York Central rail line hugs the northern shore, connecting the mountain settlements of Shokan and Ashokan to the broader regional economy.

Away from the water, the rural character of Ulster County is preserved in the network of one-room schoolhouses and country churches. Local history is etched into landmarks such as the Acorn Hill Chapel and the Cupola Vly Church, while small hamlets like Atwood and Lomontville remain centered around crossroads and creeks. This 1943 survey serves as a precise record of the mid-century intersection between engineered utility and the traditional Catskill landscape.