1950 Map of Oldtown

About this map

The confluence of the North Branch Potomac River and South Branch Potomac River defines this riverine landscape at the border of Maryland and West Virginia. Historically significant transportation corridors dominate the valley floors, where the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal parallels the river bends near Oldtown. The area’s mid-century character is shaped by heavy rail infrastructure, including the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and the Western Maryland Railway, which served local hubs like Green Spring and Okonoko. Steep ridgelines such as Warrior Mtn and Green Ridge separate these industrial and transit arteries from isolated upland communities. The map captures small rural points of interest like Pumpkin Center and Gerlock, along with local landmarks such as Mount Olive Church and the curiously named Fifty-Four Cem on the eastern edge of the quadrangle.