[PRCo] Comments on the old map

[ROBERT R ROCKWELL]

-- Desc: Black Diamond map.jpg
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This is a really interesting old map. It predates 1895. The Pittsburgh, Virginia & Charleston R.R. became the Mon Division of the Pennsy.
Donora was built between "Columbia" and "Webster Station". A common RR practice to name stations for the city across the river, thus service to Webster was "provided".. MONessen (Essen (Krupp Works, Germany, on the Mon) was built where #42 appears on the map.

Dam #4 was on the river as shown from 1845 to 1932. "Lock 4 Station" became the site of North Charleroi (1895). Once Monessen was established this station was renamed West Monessen (same reason as the Webster story above). Charleroi followed South of North Charleroi. The North Charleroi postal office was Lock Four Branch, Charleroi, PA. for many years. It briefly got a zip code 15023, but, now, just 15022 and no P.O. The town was NEVER officially Lock 4.

I always thought it strange that the trolley stop at 4th Street on Lincoln Avenue was called "Lock View", because the citizens of Lock View (a never incorporated town in Fallowfield Township )got off the car at the stop between first and second hollows (shelter & steps provided), not at "Lock View" stop. But, I can clearly see the name Lock View stop , it was indeed directly above the pre-1932 Lock 4.

W. Belle Vernon is now Speers Boro. The trolley stop named Belle Vernon was of course equally incorrect as with the railroads. The Monessen end of the bridge on the P&LE was also "East Charleroi".

Lucyville is now Roscoe. Merchantville is now Newell. Greenfield is now Coal Center, but that big loop in the river is still "Greenfield Bend".


 
Robert Rockwell
w3syt1 at msn.com<mailto:w3syt1 at msn.com>