1936 Map of Vesuvius

About this map

Baltimore and Ohio and Norfolk and Western rail lines define the western lowlands of the Blue Ridge in the mid-1930s, connecting settlements like Greenville, Spottswood, and Vesuvius. This survey reveals a landscape split between established valley farming and industrial mountain extraction, evidenced by the Red Mtn Mine and Chalk Mine nestled into the high ridges. Deep within the mountains, the Appalachian Trail follows the spine of the Big Level and Torry Ridge, passing near landmarks like The Priest and The Friar. The prevalence of small rural institutions such as the Irish Creek Mission and schools like the Sally B Dickinson Sch speaks to the decentralized nature of the mountain communities during the Depression era. Conservation and state management also emerge with the State Trout Hatchery and the Alhambra CCC Camp 2355 along the Tye River.