1972 Map of Fiftysix

About this map

Fiftysix serves as the focal point of this Ozark plateau landscape, situated near the headwaters of the winding North Sylamore Creek. The map documents a mid-century period when the Ozark National Forest had become established for both timber and recreation, anchored by the subterranean complexity of Blanchard Caverns. Settlement patterns remain tied to the rugged topography, with community life centered around rural landmarks like Shady Grove Ch and Red Doors Ch along the southern road networks. These labels, alongside remote cemeteries like Gayler Cem, provide critical evidence for genealogists and local historians tracing families in this corner of Stone County. The intricate drainage network of Roasting Ear Creek and Grassy Creek illustrates the dissected nature of the terrain, where narrow hollows such as Gunner Hollow and Wolf Pen Hollow dictated the path of early homesteads and mountain roads.