1952 Map of Bradley NE

About this map

Lake Erling dominates the southern landscape of this Lafayette County region, its waters contained within the expansive State Game Refuge boundary. The area reflects a mid-century rural economy where extraction and agriculture coexisted, evidenced by the extensive Oil and Gas Field and scattered Gravel Pits north of the refuge. The St Louis Southwestern railroad cuts through the western portion of the terrain, connecting small rural congregations and family burial grounds. Researchers will find several documented houses of worship, including Crossroads Ch, Piney Grove Ch, and St Jonah Ch, often situated near older landmarks like the Demoss Cem and McClendon Cem. The drainage patterns of Mars Hill Creek and Bodcau Creek define the low-lying areas, while the Refuge Boundary marks a significant transition into protected conservation land.