1912 Map of Oak Hill

About this map

The Jefferson Furnace and Bloom Furnace define the industrial character of this corner of southern Ohio, where the iron industry shaped the rugged landscape of Jefferson and Bloom townships. At this time, the region was a complex network of narrow valleys and ridges, with small mining and furnace settlements like Samsonville and Black Fork Sta connected by several railroads. The Baltimore and Ohio Southwestern RR and the Detroit Toledo and Ironton Railroad cut through the terrain, moving resources from the coal and iron operations to larger markets. This 1912 survey preserves the location of numerous country schools, such as Peachorchard School and White Bear School, and early religious centers like Moriah Church and Salem Church. The map captures a moment when the transition from traditional charcoal iron production to more modern industrial practices was still visible in the scattered furnaces and railroad switches like Globe Switch.