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1944 Map of Wiergate

Name: 1944 Topographic Map of Wiergate
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1944
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1944

About this map

The Sabine River forms a winding border between Texas and Louisiana, defining a landscape dominated by riparian bottomlands and the timbered uplands of the Sabine National Forest. In the mid-1940s, the economy and community life centered on the Gulf Northern railroad and the lumber town of Wiergate, where local industry met the rail network. Away from the tracks, the terrain is dotted with small rural settlements and institutional landmarks like Toledo, the Mayflower Sch, and Mt Zion Ch.

The survey reveals a complex system of water features along the river, including Alligator Lake, Horseshoe Slough, and Blue Lake. These waterways, alongside historical crossings such as Anthonys Ferry, illustrate the era's reliance on the river for both transport and geography. For genealogists, the map is particularly useful for locating scattered family burial grounds like Bodie Gatson Cem and Tanner Cem, which remain as markers of early East Texas homesteads.