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1946 Map of Bearsville

Name: 1946 Topographic Map of Bearsville
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1946
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1946

About this map

Woodstock and the surrounding hamlets of the Catskill High Peaks region are documented here in the mid-1940s, just as the area's reputation as a cultural and artistic retreat was firmly established. The map highlights the rugged topography of Hunter-Catskill State Park, where steep drainages like Silver Hollow and Mink Hollow descend from Olderbark Mountain and Twin Mtn. In the valleys, a network of small schoolhouses, including School No 5 and School No 3, serves scattered settlements like Shady and Lake Hill.

The prominent Glasco Turnpike cuts through the terrain near the early arts colony at Byrdcliffe, illustrating the historical transportation routes that connected these mountain communities. Significant water bodies such as Cooper Lake and Yankeetown Pond are centrally located, while the Beaver Kill and Saw Kill provide the primary drainage for the high elevations. This survey, compiled from 1943 aerial photography, captures the transition of the landscape from a rural subsistence and timber economy into a more modern residential and recreational character.