1948 Map of Keating Summit

About this map

The divide between the Allegheny River and Sinnemahoning Creek defines this high-country landscape on the border of McKean and Potter counties. In this 1940s topography, the Penn Central rail line navigates the winding valleys through Keating Summit, an area shaped by the steep V-shaped drainage of Portage Creek and Cowley Run. Small settlements such as Liberty, Wrights, and Hamilton anchor the northern reaches of the quadrangle, while the southern terrain is dominated by narrow hollows like Planing Mill Hol and Slabtown Hollow. The industrial legacy and fire watch history of the region are evident at Fox Mountain Fire Tower and the Lookout Tower atop Lookout Mountain. These summits provided critical surveillance over the deep timberlands and waterways, reflecting a period when forestry management and rail transport were the primary drivers of local activity.