1942 Map of West Shokan

About this map

Ashokan Reservoir dominates the eastern landscape, its expansive shoreline shaping the local geography of central Ulster County. This survey, based on 1942 aerial photography, documents the high peaks of the Catskills including Cornell Mountain, Balsam Cap, and Mombaccus Mountain. The settlement pattern follows the narrow creek valleys that drain toward the reservoir, with small hamlets like West Shokan, Samsonville, and Brodhead serving as focal points for rural life. Local education is anchored by several small schoolhouses, including the Bushkill Sch and West Shokan Sch. The terrain is defined by deep hollows such as Traver Hollow Brook and Maltby Hollow Brook, while the Moonhaw Gun Club and a remote Trail system indicate the region's long-standing use for recreation and timber. These valley communities and their connecting mountain passes provide a clear look at the area's mid-century rural infrastructure before modern development.