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1949 Map of Delano

Name: 1949 Topographic Map of Delano
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1949
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1949

About this map

Industrial coal-country infrastructure and steep topography characterize the landscape of Schuylkill County in the late 1940s. The region is defined by the Reading and Central RR of Pennsylvania lines, which navigate the narrow gaps of Broad Mountain and Locust Mountain. Local industry is anchored by operations such as the Primrose Mine and the rail hub at East Mahanoy Jet. The map reveals a high density of rural social infrastructure, including several named schools like Lakeside Sch and Messerschmidt Sch, which served the scattered mining and railroad hamlets.

The intricate water system supporting these communities and their industries is visible through numerous reservoirs, including Lofty Res, Kaier Res, and Codorus Res. Notable landmarks like the Mahanoy Tunnel Sta and the Barnesville Landing Field reflect the era's transport technology. From the settled valley at Delano to the smaller siding at Mintzers Siding, this survey documents the anthracite region's mid-century landscape before the decline of the local rail and coal economies.