1936 Map of Salem

About this map

Wheeler Reservoir dominates the southern reaches of this landscape, its waters rising behind the newly completed dam as shown in this 1936 survey. The Tennessee Valley Authority's influence is clear, with the Reservation Boundary and the Reservoir Boundary demarcating a landscape in transition. The map captures the older rural fabric of Limestone County before complete inundation, including the Easter Ferry Bridge and the Buck Island Bridge spanning the rising Elk River. Local life centers on community hubs like Salem and the cluster of West Limestone Sch and Salem Sch. The terrain is dense with family-named landmarks and institutions, from the Legg Cem and Conniegun Cem to numerous small schoolhouses like Red Hill Sch and Buck Island Sch that served the dispersed farming population of the era.