1907 Map of Kenna

About this map

Sissonville serves as a primary hub in this turn-of-the-century landscape, situated along the winding banks of the Pocatalico River. The 1906 survey reveals a highly dissected topography of ridges and hollows where the Jackson, Kanawha, and Putnam county lines intersect. Small rural communities like Kenna, Goldtown, and Advent are connected by a network of early roads that follow the drainage of Mill Creek and Grass Lick Creek. Significant local landmarks such as Emma Belle School and the White Chapel indicate established community nodes, while family-named high points like Garnes Knob and Mt Tell define the horizon. The map illustrates a transitional period when local industry was anchored by sites like Staats Mills, reflecting a time when mountain life was deeply tied to the specific geology of the Elk and Poca districts. Genealogists will find interest in the numerous named runs and branches, such as Leatherwood Run and Phillips Hollow, which often correspond to early family homesteads.