1948 Map of Birch Tree

About this map

The Eleven Point River carves a deep path through the southern half of this mid-century survey, a landscape defined by sharp ridges and a complex system of ponds and springs. The northern territory around Birch Tree is anchored by the St Louis - San Francisco RR and several family-centric landmarks, including Oak Forest Cem and Warm Corners Cem. The central portion of the map is dominated by the State Eleven Point Game Refuge, where topographic features like Possum Trot Lookout and Tram Lookout provided essential fire observation points for the forested Ozark terrain. Local industry and subsistence are evidenced by Turners Mill and the Fish Hatchery near Greer Spr. The prevalence of small rural schools such as Banner Sch and Sunnyside Sch reveals a dispersed but active settlement pattern across the township boundaries of Bartlett and Winona during the late 1940s.