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1953 Map of Iron Springs

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Iron Springs
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1991
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1991

About this map

South Mountain dominates this mid-century landscape where the border between Adams and Franklin counties follows high ridges and deep hollows. The eastern slopes are marked by small rural nodes like Fairfield and Iron Springs, which grew along the Western Maryland railroad line. Further west, the terrain rises sharply toward South Mountain, hosting the State Sanatorium and the State Ranger Station near Old Forge.

The presence of Maria Furnace near the confluence of Copper Run and Tom's Creek points to the region's earlier industrial heritage. The Appalachian Trail winds through the western ridges, passing over Snowy Mtn and near Chimney Rocks. This survey, updated with photo revisions in the late 1960s and early 1970s, captures the transition of the mountain from a center of resource extraction and health retreats to a recreational landscape, while preserving the location of family-named landmarks like Strang Cem and Rupp Hill.