1960 Map of Rowlesburg

About this map

The Cheat River carves a dramatic, winding path through the Briery Mtns and the Monongahela National Forest, defining the industrial and social life of this West Virginia corridor in 1960. The town of Rowlesburg sits at a sharp oxbow, serving as a vital hub for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and the nearby cement manufacturing center at Manheim. The landscape is dotted with the hallmarks of tight-knit Appalachian communities, including the Mtn View Sch and numerous country churches like Victory Ch and Redrock Ch. High on the ridges and deep in the hollows, family legacies are preserved in small burial grounds such as Watkins Cem and Sanders Cem. Local infrastructure of the era is evident in the Covered Bridge near Macomber and the proliferation of Gas Wells and Mines, reflecting the region's reliance on timber, rail, and resource extraction.