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1960 Map of Masontown

Name: 1960 Topographic Map of Masontown
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1965
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1965

About this map

Masontown and the surrounding Preston County highlands appear here during a period of intensive industrial activity. The landscape is defined by the extraction of coal, with numerous Strip Mines and Coke Ovens situated alongside the Baltimore and Ohio railroad corridor. This rail line serves as the primary artery for the region, connecting the mines to larger markets via the valley of Deckers Creek. To the south, the planned community of Arthurdale stands in contrast to the industrial clusters at Bretz and Reedsville.

The map details a transition from the deep gorge of the Cheat River and the forested reaches of Coopers Rock State Forest in the north to the more settled, agrarian plateaus. Rural life is anchored by local institutions like Zion Chapel and Friendship Sch, while the presence of a Drive-in Theater near Dillan Run reflects mid-century social patterns. Family-named landmarks such as Guseman and Kanes Creek provide valuable evidence of the area's genealogical history.