1960 Map of Gaston

About this map

Gaston and Bethel anchor this agricultural region along the border of Madison and Delaware Counties during the early 1960s. The landscape is defined by a dense grid of rural roads and watercourses including Pipe Creek, Killbuck Creek, and the uniquely named Polecat Creek. Local history is preserved in a concentration of country churches and burial grounds, such as Prairie Grove Ch, Epworth Ch, and Walker Cem. The map reflects mid-century community life through specialized sites like the Miami Reserve Christian Camp and the Bethel Home Place for Boys. An interpretive look at the drainage patterns reveals the reclamation of land once known as Old Prairie Swamp, while the presence of a Gas Well suggests the persisting mineral interests beneath the farm fields.