1939 Map of Brumley

About this map

Clinch Mountain and the Brumley Rim dominate the topography of this corner of Southwest Virginia, where the North Fork Holston River winds through the southern valleys. In the years before World War II, the landscape was defined by small rural settlements like Holston and Willis, each centered around community focal points such as Moccasin Gap Sch and Hayes Sch. The presence of the State Prison Camp near Little Cedar Creek and several rural churches, including Green Valley Ch and Riverside Ch, illustrates the social infrastructure of the era. Much of the high ground is protected within the Jefferson National Forest, where deep coves like Detroit Cove and Big Horse Cove cut into the steep ridges of Poor Valley and Rich Valley. Genealogists may find interest in Phelps Cem located near Moccasin Gap, a key passage through the ridge lines.