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1939 Map of Brussels

Name: 1939 Topographic Map of Brussels
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1955
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1955

About this map

The Mississippi River and Illinois River converge in this pre-war survey, defining a landscape of low-lying islands and river-driven commerce. The map documents the intricate network of river landings such as Poppleton Ldg, Beech Ldg, and Fruitland Ldg that served the agricultural bottoms of Calhoun Co and St Charles Co. These landings, paired with the West Point Ferry and Golden Eagle Ferry, highlight a period when river transit was essential for the isolated peninsular communities.

Further inland, the transition to upland farming is marked by early transportation routes like Boones Lick Road and the Chicago Burlington and Quincy railroad. The map is particularly rich for local historians, identifying numerous rural schoolhouses such as Black Jack Sch and Nichols Sch, as well as the Lone Tree Indian Mound and Old Rock Ch. In the northeast, the development of Pere Marquette State Park and local social hubs like the Cuivre Club and Boettlers Club indicate the area's emerging role for recreation alongside its established river and rail industry.