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1947 Map of Oleona

Name: 1947 Topographic Map of Oleona
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1972
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1972

About this map

Kettle Creek defines the central valley of this Pennsylvania landscape, winding through the townships of Abbott and Stewardson. The map documents a rugged timber-and-hollow terrain where early settlement patterns are still visible in the small hamlets of Oleona and Rixford. Of particular historical interest is Ole Bull State Park, which preserves the location of Castle Ruins, the remains of an 1850s attempt by Norwegian violinist Ole Bull to establish a New Norway colony in the mountains of Potter County.

The topography is a complex network of steep ridges and narrow drainages, such as Hickory Ridge and Rawson Ridge. The map identifies numerous forest access routes and footpaths, including the Ike Whitman Trail and Swartwood Trail, along with utilitarian landmarks like the Stone Watering Trough. These features reflect a mid-century period when the area was shifting from active resource extraction toward conservation and recreational use, as seen in the extensive state park and forest land.