WELCOME 1910's Pennsylvania State Road Maps WELCOME

Although no map is shown below for some years, a Sproul map was likely issued sometime during that year. The map issued in 1914 when Tener was governor is something of an anomaly. It covered only the southeast and was not a Sproul map; that is, it did not have numbered road segments. A companion map was made for southwestern Pennsylvania in 1915.


1910 From Report of the State Highway Department of Pennsylvania - 1908, Joseph W. Hunter, State Highway Commissioner, C. E. Aughinbaugh, Printer to the State of Pennsylvania 1910. These before and after photos are from a state report containing photos and financial information but no maps. Although prepared for 1908, the report wasn't published until 1910. These photos illustrate the type of 'improvements' done to roads prior to paving.
1911 MAP OF PENNSYLVANIA SHOWING STATE HIGHWAYS as adopted under the Sproul Road Bill approved May 31, 1911. Edward M. Bigelow, State Highway Commissioner, Joseph W. Hunter, Deputy State Highway Commissioner, Made by Ralph C. Benedict, Chas. W. Erisman. Breuker & Kessler Co., Philada. The date on the map is that of the road bill, not the published date. This map is #212 in Simonetti and dated '1915?'. Bigelow became commissioner in June, 1911 and stayed until c1914. Benedict & Erisman made a map of Lancaster County dated January, 1912 (#445 in Simonetti). Thereafter, all the listed county highway maps are by Benedict alone or Benedict & Strum. Thus, this map is thought to date c1911-12. It is backed with linen with the pieces of paper separated by gaps to allow folding. Size: 24 x 40 inches.
1912 MAP OF THE PUBLIC ROADS IN CRAWFORD COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, constructed from actual surveys made under the direction of the State Highway Department by authority of an act of assembly approved May 1, 1905. Samuel D. Foster, Chief Engineer, Edward M. Bigelow, State Highway Commissioner, made by Ralph C. Benedict, January 1, 1912. From circa 1911 to 1915 county road maps were prepared by R. C. Benedict and others in the Highway Department. They were the first large scale comprehensive road maps issued by the state, more detailed than the state maps and the most used by highway people. This is an example of one made in 1912 for Crawford County, #446 in Simonetti. Scale: 1 inch = 1.125 miles. Size: 29 x 45 inches.
1913 COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA STATE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT MAP SHOWING PROGRESS ON SPROUL ROUTE CONSTRUCTION, from Report of the State Highway Department of Pennsylvania 1911-1913, Edward M. Bigelow, State Highway Commissioner, Wm. Stanley Ray, State Printer 1914. This is a smaller and cruder Sproul map made for inclusion in a state report. The roads have the numbering system the state developed as part of the Sproul Road Bill plans. Size: 14 x 22 inches.
1914 HIGHWAY MAP OF SOUTHEASTERN SECTION OF PENNSYLVANIA, compiled and drawn by C. P. Strum, John K. Tener, Governor, June 1, 1914. This map includes the southeast west to Adams County and north to Union County. Main roads are shown in red but are not numbered or otherwise identified. Rail and trolly lines are also shown. This map has a linen backing and was not a Sproul or county road map, so some mystery surrounds its publication. A companion map titled HIGHWAY MAP OF SOUTHWESTERN SECTION OF PENNSYLVANIA by Strum appeared in 1915, showing the region north to Lawrence County and east to Centre County. No similar maps of northeastern or northwestern Pennsylvania have been seen. Scale: 1 inch = 4 miles. Size: 31 x 42 inches.
1915 MAP OF THE PUBLIC ROADS IN SULLIVAN COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA, constructed from actual surveys made under the direction of the State Highway Department by authority of an act of assembly approved May 31, 1911. William D. Uhler, Chief Engineer, Robert J. Cunningham, State Highway Commissioner, made by Ralph C. Benedict, Gustave P. Strum, May 1, 1915. This map is item 283, 445 in Simonetti, and is one of the county road maps prepared by Benedict (& Strum) from circa 1911 to c1915. These were the first large scale comprehensive road maps issued by the state. Scale:1 inch = 1.125 miles. Size: 25 x 36 inches.
1916 ROAD MAP OF PENNSYLVANIA SHOWING STATE HIGHWAYS as adopted under the Sproul Road Bill approved May 31, 1911, and subsequent amendments, January 1, 1916. Compiled by Ralph C. Benedict, A. Hoen & Co. Lith. Baltimore, MD. The roads have red numbers that refer to the internal numbering system adopted by the Highway Department. These road numbers are not continuous with present day routes, apparently the idea of continuous routes took a while to develop. This map is #637 in Simonetti. Size: 35 x 56 inches.
1917 MAP OF THE PUBLIC ROADS IN VENANGO COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA, constructed from actual surveys made under the direction of the State Highway Department by authority of an act of assembly approved May 31, 1911. William D. Uhler, Chief Engineer, Frank B. Black, State Highway Commissioner. Compiled and drawn by Ralph C. Benedict, Gustave P. Strum, February 1, 1917. This map is item 287, 446 in Simonetti, and is one of the county road maps prepared from circa 1911 to 1920. Scale:1 inch = 1.125 miles. Size: 36 x 32 inches.
  1918
1919 ROAD MAP OF PENNSYLVANIA SHOWING STATE HIGHWAYS as adopted under the Sproul Road Bill approved May 31, 1911, and subsequent amendments and tentative plan of primary system, issued by the State Highway Department November 1, 1919, compiled by Ralph C. Benedict, A. Hoen & Co. Lith. Baltimore, MD. This map is #12 in Simonetti. William Sproul, the sponsor in the state Senate of the road bill bearing his name, became governor in 1919. Size: 35 x 56 inches.
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