1926 Map of Bruceton

About this map

The Cheat River carves a deep valley through the southwestern corner of this West Virginia and Pennsylvania borderland, providing a dramatic backdrop for the rural communities of the 1920s. Centered around Bruceton Mills and Brandonville, the landscape is defined by its agrarian and early industrial character, where numerous grist and sawmills once operated. A high density of country schools, such as the Shafer School and Deep Hollow School, along with spiritual centers like the Old Brick Church and St Peters Church, reflect a closely-knit network of small mountain settlements. This era shows the region just before modern infrastructure reshaped these hollows, with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and the Pipe Line marking the ingress of industrial transport. Traces of early extraction are visible at the Gaflisch Mine, while the many cemeteries, including Pleasant Grove Cem, provide vital touchpoints for local genealogy.