Fraterville in Anderson County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Village of Brothers

Photographed by Tom Bosse, March 4, 2017

1. Village of Brothers Marker

Inscription. Sergeant major Eldad Cicero Camp, a Civil War Union veteran, U.S. District Attorney, and businessman, never used convicts in his mines. Instead, he established contracts with experienced miners. Fraterville, the name of Major Camp's first mine and the surrounding town, means village of brothers.

The mine opened in 1870 and is located one mile to the southwest. Fraterville miners convinced their relatives to join them in their mining ventures. The miners had the opportunity to own their own land, build their own homes, be paid in cash fo coal they mined, and validated the concept of Fraterville as a village of brothers.

Erected by Coal Creek Watershed Foundation.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Coal Creek Watershed Foundation series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1870.

Location. 36° 12.317′ N, 84° 10.033′ W. Marker is in Fraterville, Tennessee, in Anderson County. It is at the intersection of Briceville Highway (Tennessee Route 116) and Andy's Ridge Road, on the left when traveling north on Briceville Highway. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Rocky Top TN 37769, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in East Tennessee

and in Greater Knoxville.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker

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: Fraterville Disaster (here, next to this marker); Itinerant Miners' Cemetery (here, next to this marker); Militia Hill (approx. 0.7 miles away); Breastworks (approx. 0.7 miles away); American Chestnuts (approx. 0.7 miles away); Fire on Coal Creek (approx. 0.7 miles away); State Coal Mine (approx. 0.7 miles away); Siege on Fort (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fraterville.

Also see . . . Eldad Cicero Camp. (Submitted on April 1, 2017, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee.)

Photographed by Tom Bosse, March 4, 2017

2. Village of Brothers Marker

Marker is on the left.

Eldad Cicero Camp image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tom Bosse

3. Eldad Cicero Camp

Credits. This page was last revised on August 19, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 1, 2017. This page has been viewed 688 times since then and 16 times this year. Last updated on August 18, 2023. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 1, 2017, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.