1939 Map of Mellwood

About this map

The Missouri Pacific railroad line anchors the Arkansas side of this riverine landscape, connecting the town of Mellwood and the agricultural settlement of Lundell. This 1930s-era topography reveals a complex network of bayous and meander lines along the border of Arkansas and Mississippi, featuring distinctive river engineering works such as the Avenue Revet and Knowlton Revetment. The map is particularly rich in genealogical data for the region, documenting numerous rural churches and schools including Jerusalem Ch & Cem and the Booker Sch & Cem. Significant water bodies like Moon Lake and the serpentine Hushpuckena River define the Delta terrain. A rare feature shown is the Laconia Circle in Desha County, illustrating early land patterns within the loops of the shifting river. From Hurricane Pt to the bends around Island No 64, the map documents a landscape shaped by both natural flooding and deliberate flood control efforts.