1929 Map of Eccles

About this map

The rugged Coal River Mountain and Kayford Mountain dominate this landscape during the late 1920s, a period when the deep valleys of West Virginia were densely dotted with small mountain schools and coal-adjacent settlements. The map shows a transition from the earlier era of the Virginia Turnpike to the modern engineering of the W. Va. Turnpike. This particular survey preserves a remarkable record of local education, mapping dozens of family-named schoolhouses such as McKinley School, Muddy Lynn School, and Dingess School. While industrial activity is implied by the proximity to the Coal River, the map also highlights vital social hubs like Matville Church and small post offices from Republic in the north to Eccles in the southeast. The intricate contour lines and mountain gaps, including Clear Fork Gap and Skinned Poplar Gap, reveal the difficult paths early residents traveled between the Sherman District and Trap Hill District.