1942 Map of Bellflower

About this map

Middletown and Bellflower anchor this 1942 survey of eastern Missouri, where the agricultural landscape is intricately carved by the West Fork Cuivre River and its numerous tributaries. The rural character of the era is evidenced by a dense network of country schools and churches, including Pine Knot Sch and Smyrna Ch, which served dispersed farming families. The Chicago Burlington and Quincy railroad cuts through the southern reaches of the map, passing through the settlements of Buell and Bellflower. This transit corridor contrasts with the more dissected terrain to the north, where small landmarks like New Hartford and Gazette sit near the headwaters of Lead Creek and Sandy Creek. State Geologist Edward L. Clark oversaw this mapping effort, which documents the mid-century placement of cemeteries like Union Chapel Cem and Elkhorn Cem before modern consolidation altered the local social geography.