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1940 Map of Spurgeon

Name: 1940 Topographic Map of Spurgeon
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1950
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1950

About this map

Tri-City Airport, also labeled as McKellar Field, sits at the convergence of air, rail, and river travel in this late 1930s landscape. The terrain is defined by the winding paths of the South Fork Holston River and the Watauga River, where numerous traditional crossings like Shipley Ferry, Hall Ford, and Smith Shoal Bridge facilitate local movement between Sullivan and Washington Counties.

Rural life is anchored by family-named landmarks and local institutions, from the Boone Creek Mill to the Ladies Academy. The Free Hill Tunnel marks a significant piece of infrastructure, while small settlements like Spurgeon, Kitzmiller, and Flourville are dotted with country houses of worship including Beulah Ch and Dunkard Ch. The map captures a moment when traditional agrarian patterns, evidenced by the Buffalo Cem, were increasingly meeting modern aviation and regional transport networks.