Beers map abbreviations?

[HeatherM]

I cannot find a legend or abbreviation list for the D. G. Beers maps anywhere including on the dang map. Can anyone tell me what S.S and S.H (school house?) stand for?

 

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[Noah_D]

SH is usually schoolhouse. I don't know about SS, but one time I threw out that it could mean steam sawmill. The problem was that it appeared on maps that were made before steam sawmills were in use.

 

[HeatherM]

A friend told me it could mean survey stone? How boring.

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Could it possibly mean 'Stage Stop', similar to today's 'bus stop'?
They look to be a few miles apart.

Dave

 

[HeatherM]

Could it possibly mean 'Stage Stop', similar to today's 'bus stop'?
They look to be a few miles apart.

Dave

Hmmmm, never thought about that....

 

[VTColonialDigger]

Noah D is right about S.H. standing for School House, however I have another theory about what S.S. could mean. I have noticed that on a lot of old maps, especially Beer's maps, if an owner had a lot of property in one area of town, the owner's name would be written once, and then after that just the owner's initials would be written.
Here's an example:


H. Hoadley owned a lot of land in this part of town according to the map. H. Hoadley was put once, and then after that just the initials "H.H."

So maybe "S.S." stands for the owners initials.

I hope this help!

 

[HeatherM]

Noah D is right about S.H. standing for School House, however I have another theory about what S.S. could mean. I have noticed that on a lot of old maps, especially Beer's maps, if an owner had a lot of property in one area of town, the owner's name would be written once, and then after that just the owner's initials would be written.
Here's an example:
View attachment 1837620

H. Hoadley owned a lot of land in this part of town according to the map. H. Hoadley was put once, and then after that just the initials "H.H."

So maybe "S.S." stands for the owners initials.

I hope this help!

Interesting! That is very useful knowledge. I will check the map again and see what the nearby owners names were. I'm just learning how to interpret the old maps and they can be very frustrating!! I feel like I keep getting nowhere and all I want to do is find some new interesting places that haven't been detected to death!

 

[Mackaydon]

Any chance your map is part of one showing Versailles, Kentucky; and also showing the Clear Creek Baptist Church?
Don.....

 

[HeatherM]

Any chance your map is part of one showing Versailles, Kentucky; and also showing the Clear Creek Baptist Church?
Don.....

It is… don't be stealing my spots!

 

[Mackaydon]

You may wish to contact the Woodford County Historical Society and ask them.

[FONT=&quot]Phone: (859) 873-6786[/FONT][FONT=&quot]E-mail: [email protected][/FONT][FONT=&quot]on Facebook:[/FONT][FONT=&quot] [url]https://www.facebook.com/WoodfordKyHistory[/URL]
They may also be able to refer you to the local historian.
Don.......[/FONT]​

 

[VTColonialDigger]

Interesting! That is very useful knowledge. I will check the map again and see what the nearby owners names were. I'm just learning how to interpret the old maps and they can be very frustrating!! I feel like I keep getting nowhere and all I want to do is find some new interesting places that haven't been detected to death!

If your're looking for new sites, another tool that is really helpful for locating new sites is Lidar. It shows elevation of the Landscape. It is done by state, I see your're in Kentucky, I don't know, but they might have it. It is great for locating cellar holes. It takes a learning curve but a tip is that cellar holes show up as small squares. Look in remote/wooded areas and you might find a cellar hole that isn't marked on any maps, these are usually the old ones.

If you do a Google search for "Kentucky Lidar" you can probably find out if they have it or not.

 

[HeatherM]

You may wish to contact the Woodford County Historical Society and ask them.

[FONT="]Phone: (859) 873-6786[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=#2A3027][FONT="]E-mail: [email protected][/FONT][FONT="]on Facebook:[/FONT][/COLOR][COLOR=#2A3027][FONT="] [url]https://www.facebook.com/WoodfordKyHistory[/URL]
They may also be able to refer you to the local historian.
Don.......[/FONT]​

I'm actually headed there next week to buy a few maps so I'll see if they know.

 

[HeatherM]

If your're looking for new sites, another tool that is really helpful for locating new sites is Lidar. It shows elevation of the Landscape. It is done by state, I see your're in Kentucky, I don't know, but they might have it. It is great for locating cellar holes. It takes a learning curve but a tip is that cellar holes show up as small squares. Look in remote/wooded areas and you might find a cellar hole that isn't marked on any maps, these are usually the old ones.

If you do a Google search for "Kentucky Lidar" you can probably find out if they have it or not.

Thank you for the tip. I have been trying to learn to recognize cellar holes/foundations and old roads like on google earth and it has not been easy. Maybe it will be more noticeable on that site. i'll check it out tonight!

 

[Mackaydon]

After Mr. Sellers died in 1887, his farms were sold at public auction.
This source may give you an idea as to what the "S.S." may mean.
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15669214/kentucky-advocate/
Don......

 

[HeatherM]

After Mr. Sellers died in 1887, his farms were sold at public auction.
This source may give you an idea as to what the "S.S." may mean.
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15669214/kentucky-advocate/
Don......

Dang, you're good!!

 

[Noah_D]

Thank you for the tip. I have been trying to learn to recognize cellar holes/foundations and old roads like on google earth and it has not been easy. Maybe it will be more noticeable on that site. i'll check it out tonight!

Here's an availability map of the 1-meter DEMs, the 1-meters are the most useful bc of the resolution. It doesn't look like Ky has much coverage yet though, neither does Ohio .
https://www.usgs.gov/media/images/1-meter-dem-availability-conus-only

 

[Mackaydon]

On the original map you will notice the residence of S. Seearce directly and immediately to the west of what you posted.
My guess is the "S.S." is the location of other structures (homes?) owned S. Seearce and abbreviated as 'SS'.
Don....

 

[HeatherM]

Here's an availability map of the 1-meter DEMs, the 1-meters are the most useful bc of the resolution. It doesn't look like Ky has much coverage yet though, neither does Ohio .
https://www.usgs.gov/media/images/1-meter-dem-availability-conus-only

Of course not! ughhh

 

[Noah_D]

On the original map you will notice the residence of S. Seearce directly and immediately to the west of what you posted.
My guess is the "S.S." is the location of other structures (homes?) owned S. Seearce and abbreviated as 'SS'.
Don....

I like the idea but why would SS be on some of the maps I am looking at of NE Ohio?

 

[Noah_D]

Of course not! ughhh

Haha. Same.