1961 Map of West Portsmouth

About this map

McDermott and the surrounding river bottoms of the Scioto River valley dominate this landscape at the beginning of the 1960s. The region is defined by a dense network of country roads following deep hollows, such as Noel Hollow Run and Little Cave Lick Hollow, leading into the protected timberlands of the Shawnee State Forest and Brush Creek State Forest. Evidence of a long-standing extractive economy is found in the large Quarries near McDermott, while the presence of the Tremper Mound near the riverbank offers a glimpse into the prehistoric heritage of the valley. Local life is anchored by family-named landmarks and rural institutions, from the Township High Sch to numerous remote cemeteries like Duncan Cem and Seymore Cem. Along the eastern edge, the Norfolk and Western tracks follow the river's curve, serving settlements like Rushtown and industrial points like Book Siding.