1963 Map of Redwood

About this map

Maggodee Creek and the Blackwater River snake through this central Franklin County landscape, shaping a rural environment defined by family names and small-scale industry. The presence of the Piedmont Mill and Powder Mill Creek suggests an economy rooted in water-powered operations, while the Norfolk and Western Railroad Grade cuts across the southern portion of the sheet near Redwood. This era of the early 1960s captures the region as Smith Mountain Lake was being established, with its controlled inundation line noted in the east. Local life is densely documented through numerous family burial sites such as the Poindexter and Chitwood cemeteries, alongside social hubs like the Drive-in Theater near Franklin Heights. Settlements like Burnt Chimney and Taylors Store anchor the crossroads of this Piedmont community before modern development altered the rural character.