1959 Map of Kurtz

About this map

Freetown and the rail-stop of Kurtz anchor this mid-century portrait of Jackson County, where the valley of the South Fork Salt Creek cuts through the heavily timbered hills of the Hoosier National Forest. The landscape is defined by the east-west corridor of the Chicago Milwaukee St Paul and Pacific railroad, which provided a vital lifeline for small settlements and farms tucked into the hollows. Genealogists will find a wealth of local landmarks, including a high concentration of rural sanctuaries and burial grounds such as Cornett Cem Ch, Gorbetts Ch, and Mt Zion Ch. South of the forest boundary, the terrain opens into the agricultural lands surrounding Clear Spring, while northern drainages like Hound Hollow and Blind Horse Hollow illustrate the complex topography of the Pershing and Brownstown districts.