1960 Map of Newsome

About this map

The Newsome Oil Field anchors the northeast corner of this Wood County landscape, where the infrastructure of the Louisiana Arkansas and Texas railroad cuts through the terrain. The map reveals a high concentration of rural spiritual and community life, with numerous landmarks such as Morris Chapel, Smyrna Ch, and Hepsibah Baptist Ch serving the surrounding countryside. Several family and community burial grounds, including Monday Cem and Coldwater Cem, provide essential data points for local genealogists. The topography is defined by the winding paths of South Fork Brushy Creek and Lilly Creek, with small settlements like Scroggins and Westbrook dotting the road network. This survey reflects the mid-century intersection of the East Texas oil industry and established agricultural communities, captured just before later 20th-century developments altered the local character.