1971 Map of Somerville

About this map

The Somerville Dam and the expansive waters of Somerville Lake dominate this landscape, illustrating the 1970s transformation of the Yegua Creek valley. The town of Somerville sits at the northern end of the reservoir, its street grid and economy closely tied to the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad line. Recreational areas like Birch Creek State Park and Welch Park flank the shoreline, while the higher ground reveals older rural landmarks such as Rehburg and family-named cemeteries including Schoppe Cem and Lyons Cem. A network of small waterways, from Little Big Creek to Wolf Creek, feeds the lake across the Burleson and Washington county line. The presence of several country churches, including Sweet Home Ch and Gethsemane Zion Hill Ch, provides a clear view of the dispersed community structure that existed alongside the developing water-resource infrastructure.