1936 Map of Bacon Gap

About this map

Kingston sits at the strategic confluence of the Tennessee River and the Clinch River, a landscape defined by waterway transit in the mid-1930s. The region is characterized by numerous river crossings, including the Twin Rivers Ferry and the Hood Landing Ferry, which connected the rural ridge communities of Bacon Ridge and Welcer Ridge. The mapping captures a network of family and community landmarks, from the Bethel Cem near the riverbanks to inland gathering places like Ponder Ch and Chamberlin Sch. Local industry and infrastructure are represented by the Southern Railway corridor and emerging utility lines from the Tennessee Valley Authority. This survey, compiled from aerial photographs, preserves the locations of early settlements like Barnardsville and Riley before further industrial and hydrological changes altered the Roane County riverfront.