1929 Map of Lillydale

About this map

The Cumberland River and Obey River define the life of this border region between Kentucky and Tennessee in the 1920s. Before modern damming altered these river basins, ferries and river landings such as Blacks Ferry and Strodes Landing served as vital transportation nodes. The landscape is densely marked by the presence of numerous neighborhood institutions, including the Christian Chapel, New Salem Church, and Hickory Grove Church. Small rural schools like Neeleys Ferry School, Bearwallow School, and Holly Creek School appear in nearly every drainage, reflecting a decentralized population of family farms and small crossroad communities. Numerous country stores, such as Pea Ridge Store, Blythe Store, and Thompsons Store, were the primary commercial hubs for the residents of Willow Grove and Lillydale. The intricate network of bends and bars, including Salt Lick Bend and Biggerstaff Bar, shows the complex hydrology of the rivers that once dictated the pace of commerce in Clay and Monroe counties.