1905 Map of Houtzdale

About this map

Houtzdale serves as the central hub of this 1905 landscape, which is heavily defined by the coal and timber industries of Clearfield County. The region is a dense network of rail lines and industrial junctions, including the Pennsylvania RR and the Clearfield and Southern RR. These lines wind through the steep terrain to reach small company towns and post offices like Oshanter P.O. Mitchells and West Decatur P.O. Blue Ball. Along the banks of Clearfield Creek, several mill sites such as Belsena Mills highlight the processing of local resources before they were transported via the complex railway junctions like Moshannon Junc. and Goss Run Junc.. To the north, the West Branch Susquehanna River cuts through the townships of Lawrence and Bradford, providing a natural corridor for early development at Clearfield and Hyde.