1953 Map of Hillsdale

About this map

The New York Central railroad corridor anchors the landscape of eastern Columbia County in the early 1950s, connecting the village of Hillsdale with the smaller rail stops at Craryville and North Hillsdale. This era shows a community defined by its water resources and varied topography, where Agawamuck Creek feeds the Philmont Res and the Roeliff Jansen Kill winds through the eastern valleys. The map provides significant genealogical value, documenting family-named landmarks and historical burial sites like Collins Cem, Niver Cem, and Williams Cem. Educational and social hubs of the period are clearly marked, notably the Roeliff Jansen Sch and the Crum Church. The southern portion of the quadrangle is dominated by the waters of Copake Lake, featuring Mosquito Island, and the protected lands of Taconic State Park near the state border.