1932 Map of Salem

About this map

Salem anchors the southeastern corner of this study, where the Norfolk and Western Railway and the Virginian Railway parallel the North Fork Roanoke River. The landscape is dominated by the massive parallel ridges of Catawba Mountain, North Mountain, and Johns Creek Mountain. Notable institutional and geological landmarks are scattered throughout the valleys, including the Catawba Sanatorium, the notable sinkhole known as The Murder Hole, and Dixie Caverns. Local life is recorded through a network of rural schools and churches such as Fort Lewis School, Shiloh Church, and the Brickey School. The map captures a moment when early 20th-century transportation, like the Lee Highway, began to navigate the deep gaps of the Blue Ridge, such as Mc Afee Gap and Beckner Gap.