1915 Map of Pickens

About this map

Pickens and Helvetia serve as the primary hubs in this mountainous region of the central Appalachians, where the logging industry shaped the early 20th-century landscape. The intricate network of the Lumber RR, the Alexander and Eastern RR, and the Pickens and Webster Springs RR highlights the heavy reliance on rail transport to extract timber from the high ridges of Beech Mountain and Turkeybone Mountain. Beyond the industrial activity, the map reveals a scattered community structure through family-named landmarks and institutions like the Haslebacher School, Lewis School, and Turkeybone School. Settled pockets such as Adolph P.O. and Newlonton are linked by rugged trails and stream crossings. The presence of Old Fort near the Tygart River suggests an older layer of history, while the sharp elevation contours emphasize the isolation of remote settlements like Waneta and Monterville situated high on the slopes of Point Mountain.