Maryville in Blount County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

The Broadway Bell

Photographed by Tom Bosse, May 9, 2026

1. The Broadway Bell Marker

Inscription.
Methodism began in Maryville with Camp Meetings on "Methodist Hill" by 1804 and included visits by Bishop Francis Asbury in 1809 and 1813. Mount Gilead Methodist Meeting House began around 1811 and was chartered as a Methodist Church on November 27, 1824 at the organization of Holston Annual Conference. The congregation relocated to the corner of Church Avenue and Norwood Street in 1859 and to its present site in 1899. Mount Gilead Methodist changed its name to Broadway Methodist in 1939. This historic bell has served all three locations.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical date for this entry is November 27, 1824.

Location. 35° 45.452′ N, 83° 58.189′ W. Marker is in Maryville, Tennessee, in Blount County. It is at the intersection of East Broadway Avenue and Patton Street, on the left when traveling north on East Broadway Avenue. Marker is located at Broadway United Methodist Church. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 309 East Broadway Avenue, Maryville TN 37804, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in East Tennessee,

in the Great Smoky Mountains,

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,

the State of Franklin,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The New Broadway Bell (within shouting distance of this marker); Founders Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Louis Philippe's Visit (about 500 feet away, measured in a

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

direct line); Where Houston Enlisted (about 700 feet away); General Sam Houston (approx. 0.2 miles away); Blount County War Dead Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); “Battle of the Bulge” World War II Veterans of Blount County (approx. 0.2 miles away); Blount County Revolutionary War Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Maryville.

Also see . . . Francis Asbury. (Submitted on May 14, 2026, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee.)

Photographed by Tom Bosse, May 9, 2026

2. The Broadway Bell Marker

Photographed by Tom Bosse, May 9, 2026

3. The Broadway Bell Marker

Marker and Bell are on the right.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 16, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 14, 2026, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 14 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 14, 2026, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.