1965 Map of Eskdale

About this map

Cabin Creek and its many winding tributaries define this coal-rich landscape south of the Kanawha River during the mid-1960s. The valley is densely packed with mining infrastructure and company towns, connected by the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad which serves high-activity areas like the Cane Fork Yards. The map documents a transition in extraction methods, where traditional subsurface Coal Mines and the Powerhouse at Holly exist alongside expanding Strip Mine operations that crown the ridges. Community life is centered in narrow valleys at Eskdale, Kayford, and Decota, where local landmarks like the Wake Forest Sch and St Johns Ch served the families of the Kanawha and Boone County borderlands. Extensive rail spurs, including the C & O, weave through the hollows to reach remote sites like Republic and Wevaco.