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1903 Map of Masontown

Name: 1903 Topographic Map of Masontown
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1910
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1910

About this map

The Monongahela River winds through the heart of this early century landscape, serving as the primary artery for transportation and industry. Along its banks, a series of essential river crossings such as Arensburg Ferry, Browns Ferry, and Crows Ferry connect the disparate settlements of Fayette and Greene counties. Navigation is supported by heavy engineering, including Lock No 7 and Lock No 8, which manage the river's descent.

Inland, the region is defined by a dense network of early rail and road infrastructure. The National Pike cuts across the northern terrain, while the Pennsylvania RR and Baltimore and Ohio RR facilitate the movement of coal and industrial goods from towns like Fairchance and Smithfield. For the local historian, the map reveals numerous small crossroads and mining-era settlements, including Old Frame, Waltersburg, and Heistersburg, many of which were surveyed in cooperation with the H.C. Frick Coke Co., underscoring the dominant economic forces of the era.