Signal Mountain, Civil War, UFO, Alexian Village and Moonshine

Signal Mountain is old. It dates back in history long, long before the Civil War. The Indians use to climb and settle on the mountain to use it's height to send off smoke signals to communicate through the valley. Most historians and persons who travel and seek out history know it as the Civil War spot where the Army of the Union would use it's height and point to communicate across the Tennessee Valley. It was a secluded area and before the War and during the War there was only a small few who graced the top of it's beauty and called it home. 

The interesting history about this mountain is it's clouded with many ideas on just how it became populated and there are two stories behind it. One begin a friendly answer and the other into today's culture not being politically correct. The nice way to put it was in 1873 through 1878 there was a health scare. An epidemic struck Chattanooga Tennessee which is below Signal Mountain. The rich folk as modern people would put it, ran to the hills. The rich bought up the land and to rid themselves of the horror of sickness they moved to the top. On top of Signal Mountain there was breathable air and crisp clean pure water. Now the dirty version and the most true version is the epidemic was not the main cause, it is what the rich white folk said caused the epidemic and that was the growing black population taking over. They spread disease was the remark and the reality that was hidden from modern societies history. In the original dates the rich white folk hid themselves above the landscape of a city which was being invaded by those kind, they put it. 

Beautiful look out from Alexian Village.

In the first part of the 20th century Charles E. James bought up over four thousand acres and created what is today the Signal Point area. More history grew as in 1913 construction finished on building and placing in a street car track that ran for an amazing twelve miles all the way down the steep spiraling mountain. The rich white folk had to be able to travel this steep hill with ease. This track brought Signal Mountain to Chattanooga. These street cars no longer run but yet in historical amazement the tracks and station are still present. 

Now the rich white folk started getting upset because common persons started flocking to the land and bringing cattle and horses. Cows and animals started ruining the land causing unlikable living arrangements for the rich white folk and so the rich white folk decided to complain to the state of Tennessee. The state of Tennessee in 1919 decided to make Signal Mountain a town and there for they where given the okay that animals where to be outlawed on the mountain. 

Signal Mountain does have it's stains of culture mixed with racial tension and the working class average Joe against the Silver and Golden Spooned folk that ran and ruled Signal Mountain. Interesting to note is convicted murderer Byron De La Beckwith lived there. He was responsible for the death of civil rights leader Medgar Evers and Byron said it was a “Slice of Heaven”, referring to there was no blacks on the mountain at the time. Also Signal Mountain is rich with the likes of begin a moonshine road that ran it’s illegal substance down the hill to spread it’s hidden beauty. 

Snow Covered Alexian Village and Signal Mountain Below

Signal Mountain has become an attraction of beauty in today‘s present. It is a stunning beautiful reality with many spots to bring family on vacation such as Cumberland Trail which is an amazing trail that goes through eleven counties of Tennessee ranging a massive 300 miles of beauty, springs and national parks. By all means Signal Mountain is a small type community, cut off from the world in general with family outings and Blue Grass musical festivals. A yearly community bake sale and face painting and pumpkin patch wonders.

From the high school football Signal Mountain Eagles to the city wide yard sale to the cookie cutter get together in the Town Hall. This area is today a home to over 8 thousand citizens. Rich man Mr. James who slowly built the complex areas back in the early 1900’s for the rich white folk also built the Grand Signal Mountain Inn that the 12 mile trolley arrived right up to. This became a resort with a golf course and an area where the rich lifestyles could flourish in luxury. By 1925 over 200 hundred homes had been built which many of them are now historical marked and venerated with classic beauty of architectural. 

UFO Space Ship House on Signal Mountain.

In 1936 the Catholic Church and the Alexian Brothers bought the grand Signal Mountain Hotel and created the Alexian Village which is now a nationally recognized community for retirement couples and individuals. This place also houses a short term and long term care facility for those who need medical treatment. Alexian offers you check into retirement condo and when it’s your time to kick the bucket they will be there for you. Now it does not take a rocket scientist to realize this place is not for the average Joe. This is a rich folk retirement community. This houses the rich public with all it's grand leisure, cleaners, nurses, doctors, beauty saloon, chapel, weekly movies and concerts and quest speakers. 

Signal Mountain has grown and flourished into an area of almost three thousand homes. Now Signal Mountain is a historical District of summer cottages and very elegant homes in the classic Signal Point area. As you travel in ward past the small community of historical homes and stores you end up running into the basic folk. You can notice when you enter the middle class section and the area of the working Joe’s on the outskirts with one story homes and trailers that are nothing to speak about. 

Signal Mountain is a beautiful amazing landscaped area of natural beauty and historical value.

This is Signal Point and the pictures below are also, the signal spot of the Civil War.