Monroe County, TN

Sweetwater

Sweetwater is a wonderful historical town.   It has the oldest church in the county, wonderful antique shops, good local food and  nice people.   It also holds 2 little known old stone mounds.   I found only in my family's stories and Mr. Leniors 1916 book entitled "History of Sweetwater Valley , Tennessee"  evidence to verifly this story.  (http://www.archive.org/stream/historyofsweetwa00leno/historyofsweetwa00leno_djvu.txt  Full book see page 22-23)  The mounds are plowed over now and there is no reason to visit, but you can GoogleEarth where these 2 stone mounds MAYBE used to be located and see just a bit of the remnants.   Many people have speculated they were built before the local Cherokee and Creek and De Soto  and perhaps pre-Columbians were there.   I personally believe the history of my Native families vs. my European familes and what I learned in school in the 1960's  are a bit off.   Anyways.... There were two stone mounds just north & east of the present Old Sweetwater Church.   Both have been plowed down, but the West of the RR Tracks site MAY still be in better shape.   There is a small stream that runs near it.   It is Illegal to dig up these sites, DO NOT ATTEMPT, just take pictures and decide for your self.    

Below are my arial assessments.... By Google Earth & Joyce K.

<---North of Old Sweetwater Cemetery possible

       remains of 1st stone mound Site.

<----- Old Sweetwater Church

<----- Old Sweetwater Cemetery

East of RR Tracks, possible 2nd site of Stone Mounds.   Also notice the rock strewn area & the old lines and streams.

<--- # 1 Possible Mound

<--- # 2 Possible Mound

1

2

Cem

Church

RR

Stone Mounds

Tellico Plains

Paint Rock

Blue Springs

<--- Due East/West --->

Designed, hosted and sole thoughts of

Joyce K  2009-present

<---Stream

Lost Sea

Sweetwater