1949 Map of Painter

About this map

Sand Mountain dominates this landscape in the late 1940s, characterized by a dense network of rural churches and family-named creek crossings. The settlement of Painter serves as a central hub on the plateau, surrounded by smaller communities like Lathamville and Kilpatrick. The Tennessee Valley Authority's field examinations in 1947 reveal a region defined by its reliance on specific water crossings, including Green Ford Bridge, Luther Bridge, and Kirby Bridge over Scarham Creek. Local history is deeply etched into the topography through a high concentration of country sanctuaries like Old Macedonia Ch and Gilbreath Chapel, alongside family burial grounds such as Dalrymple Cem and Forester Cem. The boundary between Marshall and De Kalb counties cuts through the western ridge, marking a transition from the elevations of Pea Ridge to the winding tributaries of Shoal Creek.