1903 Map of Phoenicia

About this map

Phoenicia sits at the junction of Esopus Creek and Stony Clove Creek, serving as a central hub for the mountain rail economy of the early twentieth century. This survey, conducted at the turn of the century and reprinted in 1942, captures the intricate topography of the Catskills, dominated by the massive Slide Mountain and Panther Mt.. The landscape is defined by its narrow hollows and high-elevation landmarks, such as the Grand Hotel near Highmount and the remote Winnisook Lodge to the south. The mountain valleys are threaded with important transportation corridors, including the Ulster & Delaware R.R. and the Stony Clove and Kaaterskill Branch, which connected remote timber and resort settlements like Lanesville, Chichester, and Lexington. Researchers will find a network of established villages and mountain hamlets, from Pine Hill to Jewett Center, often located at the mouths of deep drainage basins like Peck Hollow and Broadstreet Hollow.