1915 Map of Pickens

About this map

Pickens stands as a primary hub for the Lumber RR during this peak era of West Virginia timber extraction. The map reveals a landscape defined by the drainage divide between the Middle Fork Buckhannon River and the Elk River, where steep topography dictated the placement of isolated settlements like the Swiss colony of Helvetia. Local life is anchored by a dense network of one-room schoolhouses, including the Haslebacher School, Turkeybone School, and Lewis School, serving families across the high ridges of Beech Mountain and Turkeybone Mountain. To the east, the Tygart River valley hosts the post office at Adolph P.O. and the community of Valley Head. The presence of Coalbank and various logging spurs indicates the industrial transition taking place as natural resources were accessed via the winding rail lines and river forks.