1918 Map of Webster Springs

About this map

Webster Springs (Addison) serves as the central hub of this 1918 West Virginia survey, marking a period of intense industrial activity in the mountain highlands. The landscape is defined by the convergence of the Elk River, Gauley River, and Williams River, with transport networks like the Virginia and West Virginia RR and the specialized Timber RR highlighting the era's reliance on timber extraction. This map reveals a distributed network of rural life, evidenced by numerous local institutions such as the Cherry Falls School, St. Michael School, and Mill Run School. From the industrial center of Richwood in the southwest to the remote Little Levels region, the map preserves the exact locations of family-named landmarks like Payne Knob and Jonathan Knob, alongside vanished river crossings and railroad junctions that once supported the local mountain economy.