1888 Map of Franklin

About this map

Franklin Furnace and the Ogden Mine anchor this detailed industrial landscape in the late nineteenth century. The map reveals a complex web of extraction and transportation centered in the Hardiston and Sparta regions, where iron mining and milling drove local development. Three major rail lines, including the Sussex Railroad and the New York Susquehanna and Western Railroad, intersect at strategic points like Branchville Junction and Sparta Junction to move ore and goods from the hills. Numerous small settlements such as Hardistonville, Deckertown, and Augusta are situated along the valley floors and creek beds, often clustered near water sources like the Wallkill River or Papakating Creek. The terrain is punctuated by many small water bodies including Losee Pond and White Lake, while North Church serves as a social landmark among the scattered hamlets of the Highlands.