1955 Map of Holtwood

About this map

The Susquehanna River Conowingo Reservoir and Lake Aldred dominate this landscape, illustrating the mid-century industrial transformation of the river valley. The massive Holtwood Dam and its adjacent Power Plant represent a pivot point in the region's energy infrastructure, while remnants of an earlier era like Coyne Lock and an abandoned rail line hint at the previous canal-and-river economy. On the eastern banks in Martic and Drumore townships, small rural settlements like Bethesda and Liberty Square persist alongside historic sites such as Erbs Mill and Drumore Cem. Across the water in York County, the map captures the steep drainages of Oakland Run and Wallace Run, where the rugged topography forced a dispersed settlement pattern centered around crossroads like Sunnyburn and country landmarks such as Salem Ch.