1949 Map of Pennine

About this map

Walden Ridge and the dramatic drop of the Cumberland Escarpment dominate this 1940s landscape, illustrating the sharp topographical contrast between the high plateau and the Tennessee Valley floor. The settlement of Pennine and the outskirts of Spring City are linked by the Southern railroad and the Southern Highway, which trace the base of the escarpment. Local genealogy is well-documented through numerous family-named landmarks and resting places, such as Thurman Cem, De Vaney Cem, and Wassom Cem. The wilderness of the ridge is incised by deep drainages like Stinging Fork—home to Stinging Fork Falls—and Piney River, where the river makes a sharp turn at Moccasin Bend. Small community centers are anchored by rural institutions like Webbs Chapel Sch and Hickory Grove Sch, showing the distribution of residents across this varied Rhea County terrain.