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1944 Map of Fritchton

Name: 1944 Topographic Map of Fritchton
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1944
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1944

About this map

Vincennes and the surrounding agricultural townships of Washington, Palmyra, and Harrison define this mid-1940s landscape in Knox County. The rural character is punctuated by institutional landmarks on the eastern edge of the city, including the St Vincent Orphanage, Hillcrest Hospital, and the County Farm. Settlement patterns follow the established rail lines, with Fritchton serving as a central hub along the Baltimore and Ohio railroad.

Resource extraction and spiritual life are captured through the presence of the Julian Mine and several historically significant congregations like Upper Indiana Ch and Royal Oak Ch. The drainage of the land is meticulously documented via the Kessinger Ditch and Cattail Pond Ditch, which manage the flow of the Deshee River and Smalls Creek through the undulating terrain. This survey reflects a moment when the coal industry and traditional farming communities coexisted before the significant shifts of the late 20th century.