1923 Map of Alderson

About this map

Alderson straddles the Greenbrier River as a primary rail hub during the early 1920s, serving as the focal point for this survey of Greenbrier, Monroe, and Summers counties. The Chesapeake and Ohio railroad follows the river's winding course, connecting riverside communities like Fort Spring, Glenray, and Pence Springs. The map reveals a densely settled agricultural landscape, documented through an exhaustive network of small schools such as Spider Den School, Mann School, and Indian Draft School. Industry of the era is represented by water-powered operations including Hokes Mill and Nickells Mill along Second Creek. South of the river, the terrain is defined by the steep ridges of Wolf Creek Mountain and Flattop Mountain, while the valley floors are dotted with long-established sites like Union and Sinks Grove P.O.. This survey captures the region just as the early automotive era began to connect these isolated Appalachian hollows and ridge-top settlements.