1969 Map of Longdale Furnace

About this map

Cowpasture River and its sharp bends define the western valley of this landscape, where the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad follows the water's edge through Colemans Tunnel. The terrain is dominated by the parallel ridges of Mill Mountain, Brushy Mountain, and North Mountain, which contain portions of the George Washington National Forest. Small settlements such as Nicelytown, Griffith, and Pads are scattered near the river, while the namesake Longdale Furnace sits further east along Simpson Creek. The presence of several country houses of worship, including Lone Star Ch and Sharon Ch, suggests the location of rural community centers during this era of the late sixties. Tracing the numerous creek branches like Suck Run and Hayslette Creek reveals the complex drainage patterns typical of this mountainous region of Virginia.