1919 Map of Elk Garden

About this map

The Potomac River carves a winding path along the state line in this survey of Mineral and Grant Counties, where the mountain topography dictated the growth of rail-dependent settlements. The Western Maryland Railway and Baltimore and Ohio Railroad track the river's edge, serving industrial outposts like Piedmont, Beryl, and Potomac Manor. This era shows a dense network of rural infrastructure, including numerous one-room schoolhouses such as the Terra Firma School, Empire School, and Hampshire School that once dotted the highlands.