1926 Map of New Martinsville

About this map

The Ohio River carves a deep valley through this 1920s landscape, serving as the industrial and transport artery for towns like New Martinsville, Sistersville, and Paden City. Along the West Virginia bank, the Baltimore and Ohio railroad follows the water's edge, connecting riverfront hubs and supporting local infrastructure like the County Infirmary and Hannibal Station. The rugged interior is defined by a dense network of country schools and churches, including Rothlisberger School, Doolin School, and Gorman Baptist Church, which served the scattered farming communities on ridges like Friendship Ridge. Small islands and towheads, such as Paden Island and Witten Towhead, dot the river channel, while deep-cut tributaries like Fishing Creek and Middle Island Creek wind through the hills. This era shows the transition from rural mills like Winders Mill to the established riverfront rail towns that define the region's economy.