1939 Map of Watalula

About this map

The Mulberry River carves a winding path through the heart of the Ozark National Forest on this 1930s survey, where the river's horseshoe bends dictated the placement of early settlements and river crossings. In a time before modern bridging predominated, established fords like Milton Ford, Ham Ford, and Rock Creek Ford provided vital transit between the high ridges of Boles Mountain and White Rock Mountain. The landscape is a network of small, localized communities each anchored by institutions such as the Oak Ridge Sch and Enon Ch. Traces of the region's transport history are evident along the Wire Road, while small-scale industry is marked by a Coal Mine in the southern reaches of the quadrangle. For genealogists, the map preserves the locations of numerous family-named landmarks and rural burial grounds, including the Brewer Cem and Duncan Cem.