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Maps
What's on this page:
- 1873 map of Freehold
- 1873 maps of surrounding area
- 1895 Sanborn map of Freeland
The
original name of the town that became Freeland was Freehold. But when
the borough was incorporated in 1876, it was
with the name of Freeland. In his book on Freeland history, Charles
Stumpf tells the story:A meeting was called in town hall. It was a long affair with much discussionn and the presentation of many ideas and opinions. Postmaster Luther Dodson pointed out that there was already another town bearing the name 'Freehold' within the postal district. So the selection of a new name became the order of business. After much deliberation Mr. Manus Conaghan stood up and declared: "Gentlemen. I do not believe that we are getting anywhere and there is no use discussing this problem all night. Since we cannot seem to agree on a complete new name, why can't we change just a part of it? I move that we change just the last part and call the town Free-LAND."
The map
featured on this page comes from The Atlas of Luzerne County,
published in 1873. It shows the early limits of Freehold and the names
of the property owners, along with a few businesses. It's interesting
to see the early layout, and how the movers and shakers of the time
carved up the land for settlement and development.
Here are links to two additional views of the map as they appear in the
Atlas, the one at the right showing map with its business listings, and
the one at the left rotated for readability.The maps shown on this page (click on them for larger views) come from The Atlas of Luzerne County, published in 1873. In the case of the township maps I was only able to scan a portion of each map, due to limitations having to do with the size and condition of the atlas. I've cropped the scans to show a few locales in the immediate area of Freeland.
Here is a portion of
the 1873 map of Foster Township,
showing Upper Lehigh, South Heberton, Freehold, Highland, Jeddo and
Eckley. The map shows buildings, roads, railroad tracks, breakers,
names
of major property owners, rivers and mountains. At the left of the map
are boundary lines that Foster Township shares with Butler and Hazle
Townships. The Butler/Foster line cuts right through Upper Lehigh,
although that's
not evident from this map. At this time Freehold had not yet been
renamed
Freeland, and South Heberton had not yet been annexed to Freeland.
This piece of the 1873
map of Hazle Township at right shows Lattimer, Milnesville, Harleigh,
Ebervale, Japan and Drifton. Part of the boundary between Hazle and
Butler Townships can be seen along the top of the map. 
Here is a rare view of Upper
Lehigh from 130 years ago, complete with business notices. The fact
that the entire town was owned by the Upper Lehigh Coal Company is
clearly shown. The breaker, the saw mill, the water works and a
reservoir are marked, as is the line between Foster and Butler
Townships.