Post # 17 1879 Maps and Cross Stitch Project

 

     It’s been a while since I posted anything.      This Fall, I acquired 4 original maps from the 1879 Andreas Atlas of Iowa.  They are the counties of Dubuque, Jones, Linn and Johnson Counties.  Why?  Because they show  what Iowa looked like in 1879, including vast portions of native timber, towns that no longer exist and the route of Old  Military Road.

       Earlier this Fall I wrote on my “I Also Live On A Farm Blog “ about a cross stitch project I was working on.  You know how one thing leads to another…well I finished the project,  and decided I would  do a cross stitch of these original maps….they measure 12 inches by 18 inches .  I started working on the first map this past weekend (see photo above).    It is causing me to slowly memorize the map of Jones County as it looked in 1879.   If you were to ask me at this moment to describe the layout of Jones county I would have to say “I’m not sure” …but as I’m working my way North on the cross stitch project, I getting  an awesome grasp of the details.  I anticipate by the time I finish I will know the map of our county like the back of my hand…

     This morning when I woke up, I   the  map on my brain,   probably because  I was working on it right before I went to bed.  Martelle…what’s East of Martelle..I thought to myself…way to the East (and South) is Oxford Junction….then Hale.  Actually it’s called Hale City on the  map.   And the town of Olin, is not on the map…but there is a town called “Rome”.   The towns of both Oxford Junction and Center Junction  which both exist today were towns where the rail lines crossed.  A  North and South track intersecting with an East and West Track…hence… the term “Junction.”I know this is not rocket science, but for someone who has lived most of his life in this area and is just discovering these things about local history it has been enjoyable.  My goal is to finish as much of these for maps before the actual time I do my “walk about.”