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1953 Map of Blockhouse

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Blockhouse
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1955
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1955

About this map

Montvale Springs and the surrounding Blount County foothills are documented here in the early 1950s, showing a landscape defined by small mountain communities and rural institutions. The map reveals a dense network of country schools and churches, including the Sam Houston School near the southern edge of Maryville and the Chilhowee View School further south. The settlement of Blockhouse serves as a central point between the rising slopes of Pea Ridge and Chilhowee Mountain.

Tracing the southern border, the map marks the entry into the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, where the terrain steepens toward Look Rock and Murray Gap. This survey preserves the location of numerous family and community landmarks, such as the McGinley Cemetery and Peck Memorial Church, alongside the recreation facilities at the YMCA Camp Swimming pool, providing a clear view of the area's social and topographic layout before modern development.