1942 Map of Well Spring

About this map

The Powell River and Norris Reservoir dominate the southern half of this Tennessee landscape, reflecting the massive hydrological changes of the early 1940s. While the rising waters of the reservoir reshaped the valley, the established settlements of Well Spring and Speedwell remain focused along the northern corridor near Cumberland Mountain. The map is particularly rich in genealogical data, preserving the locations of numerous family burial grounds such as Besler Cem, Childress Cem, and Jones Cem. Educational and social life is anchored by local institutions including the Speedwell Academy and various rural schools like Upper Flat Hollow Sch and Bethlehem Sch. Steep ridges like Chestnut Ridge and Whiteoak Ridge compartmentalize the terrain, forcing roads and settlements into the hollows and gaps that have historically defined movement through this part of Campbell, Claiborne, and Union Counties.