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1936 Map of Clouds

Name: 1936 Topographic Map of Clouds
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1936
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1936

About this map

Powell River and the newly formed Norris Reservoir dominate this 1936 landscape during a period of massive transition under the Tennessee Valley Authority. This advance sheet captures the region's rural character and industry just as the reservoir reached its 1,020-foot elevation, documenting numerous family-owned landmarks and local commerce points like Kecks Store, Days Store, and Bunchs Store. The map illustrates a densely settled interior of small schoolhouses and churches, including Cline Sch and Moody Chapel, alongside the extraction and processing sites that fueled the local economy.

Industrial activity is anchored by the Straight Creek Mines in the south and a series of water-powered operations such as Lonesome Valley Mill and Cupps Mill. The Southern Railway skirts the northern edge of Lonesome Valley, providing a vital link for these communities. From the Gaging Station on the river to the numerous hollows and ridges like Bull Ridge and Capps Ridge, the survey provides a precise record of Tennessee life before mid-century modernization changed these rural patterns.