1951 Map of Somerville

About this map

Somerville serves as the central hub of this North Alabama landscape, situated just north of the significant rises of Cedar Mountain and Wilson Mtn. The 1949 field examination by the Tennessee Valley Authority documents a rural landscape transitioning between traditional agricultural life and the developing infrastructure of the mid-century. Notable for its high density of family and community landmarks, the area is dotted with historical sites such as Ward Chapel, Mt Hope Church, and Fairview School. To the south, the terrain becomes increasingly complex as it rises into the Brindley Mountain range, where Brindley Hollow and Pannell Hollow cut through the steep elevations. Numerous natural springs, including Gum Spring and Whiteoak Spring, indicate the importance of water sources to the dispersed settlements like Henderson and Turney Crossroads that populate the gaps between the timbered ridges.