1949 Map of Mason Ridge

About this map

Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge dominates this section of the Tennessee Valley, where the Tennessee River - Wheeler Lake serves as the central artery for transport and ecology. The map reveals a complex system of water management, specifically the Rockhouse Buckeye Blackwell Dewatering Area, featuring a pumping station and numerous sloughs like Leemon Slough. Settlement patterns are defined by small rural hubs and family landmarks, from the clusters at Swancott and Wall Street to the scattered churches such as St Anne Ch and Oak Forest Ch. Historical river access points like Rockhouse Landing and Cain Landing indicate the long-standing importance of the river for local commerce, while the inclusion of many cemeteries, including Pebbles Cem and Thatch Cem, provides valuable points of interest for genealogical research in this riverine landscape.