1963 Map of Wilsondale

About this map

Cabwaylingo State Forest dominates the western portion of this rugged landscape in Wayne and Mingo Counties during the early 1960s. The map captures a high concentration of extraction activity, with numerous Gas Wells and Oil Wells scattered across the ridges and hollows, often accessible only by a primitive Jeep Trail. The Norfolk and Western railroad follows the winding path of Twelvepole Creek, serving as a vital transportation artery for the small communities of Wilsondale, Lowney, and Spaulding. Local life is anchored by family-named landmarks and rural institutions, including the Jennie Creek Ch and several small schools like the Lower Turkey Cr Sch. Numerous family burial grounds, such as the Matty Ferguson Cem and Meade and Messer Cem, provide a detailed record for genealogists researching the residents of this pocket of the Appalachian coalfields.