1938 Map of Brumley

About this map

Clinch Mountain serves as the dominant spine of this landscape, separating the rugged ridges of the Jefferson National Forest from the settled valleys below. The map documents a rural Appalachian community centered around the North Fork Holston River and its many tributaries, such as Moccasin Creek. Small settlements like Willis and Roebuck are joined by numerous named coves and gaps that define the local geography, including Moccasin Gap and Little Moccasin Gap. Local life is anchored by family and community institutions, evidenced by the Phelps Cem, Moccasin Gap Sch, and several houses of worship like Green Valley Ch and Riverside Ch. The detailed surveying of river crossings such as Scott Ford and the naming of many small hollows like Stagger Hollow and Canebrake Hollow provide a precise look at the mid-20th-century topography of the area.