1944 Map of Mt. Union

About this map

Mount Union and the winding Juniata River dominate this mid-century landscape where transportation routes dictate the layout of central Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania RR and the William Penn Highway parallel the river's path, connecting industrial hubs like Mapleton Depot and Newton Hamilton. The map reveals a high density of rural education, marking dozens of neighborhood schoolhouses such as Sugar Grove Sch, Lucy Furnace Sch, and Upper Hill Valley Sch, many of which served farming communities tucked between the prominent ridges of Jacks Mountain and Sideling Hill. To the south, Shirleysburg sits along Aughwick Creek, anchoring a valley filled with small settlements like Richvale Shade Valley PO. This topography highlights the isolation of these valleys, where life was centered around local churches like Gilboa Ch and family-named landmarks.