1945 Map of Driftwood

About this map

Sinnemahoning Creek carves a deep valley through the northern Allegheny Plateau, serving as the primary corridor for transportation and settlement in this corner of Cameron and Elk Counties. In the mid-1940s, the convergence of the Driftwood Branch and the Bennett Branch at the village of Hicks Run and the settlement of Castle Garden defined the local economy. The landscape is characterized by steep, narrow hollows and drafts, such as Horsehead Hollow and White Oak Draft, which descend from high ridges like Mason Hill. Rail infrastructure is prominent, with the Pennsylvania and the Baltimore and Ohio lines following the river bends to navigate the difficult terrain. Genealogists will find several burial sites preserved on these slopes, including Hicks Run Cem and Mix Run Cem, which sit near the junctions where small mountain streams meet the larger valley branches.