1903 Map of Phoenicia

About this map

Esopus Creek flows through the center of this Catskill mountain region, where the Ulster and Delaware railroad follows the valley floor to connect high-altitude resorts and timber towns. At the start of the 20th century, this area served as a premier destination for summer tourism, anchored by the landmark Highmount Grand Hotel near Pine Hill and the Winnisook Lodge at the foot of Slide Mountain. The topography reflects a landscape of deep valleys like Big Indian Hollow and Peck Hollow, which isolated small settlements such as Bushnellsville and Oliverea. Industry is evidenced by the proximity of the railroad to manufacturing sites like Chichester, while the northern reaches of the map show the transition into the Schoharie Creek watershed near Lexington.