1941 Map of Manes

About this map

The Gasconade River meanders through the heart of the Ozarks, defining the agricultural and social landscape of Wright, Laclede, and Texas Counties during the early 1940s. Local industry is anchored by water power at Grimes Mill and Latham Mill, while the river's influence on travel is seen at the historic crossing of Burney Ford. This era shows a high density of rural institutions, with dozens of family-named schools like Indian Grove Sch and Robinette Sch serving scattered farming communities. Small crossroads settlements such as Manes, Lynchburg, and Competition act as neighborhood hubs, often centered around churches like New Home Ch and Evening Shade Ch. The eastern portions of the map reveal the beginnings of the Mark Twain National Forest, illustrating the transition from private farmsteads to protected public timberlands.