7d81 Neighborhood: Brainerd | Times Free Press

Neighborhood: Brainerd

Neighborhood: Brainerd

March 27th, 2011 in Chattanooganow2011

Brainerd was where a mission and school were founded in 1817. Now it's a commercial area home to many restaurants and clubs.

* Geographic area: Missionary Ridge to the west; Shallowford Road to the north; I-75 to the south; and Chickamauga Creek to the east.

* Landmarks: Brainerd Mission Cemetery, all that remains of a mission that was established in 1817; Eastgate Town Center; Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport.

* Unique characteristics: South Chickamauga Creek and the Brainerd Levee offer nature trails and areas for recreation.

* Most famous residents: Sequoyah, credited for developing the written Cherokee language, spent his last two weeks and died at the Brainerd Mission.

* Historic info: In 1817, a mission and a school were established in Brainerd for the education of the Cherokee. At first the mission was named Chickamauga, but a year later it was changed to Brainerd in honor of David Brainerd, an early missionary to Indians of New York and New England. The mission closed its doors in 1838, at the time of the removal of the Cherokees. It named Missionary Ridge.

* Unique tradition: Every spring, the Daughters and Sons of the American Revolution hold a flag-raising at the old Mission Cemetery.

* Schools: Woodmore Elementary School, Dalewood Middle School, Brainerd High School.

* Best-kept secret: UTC's observatory, located at 10 Tuxedo Ave., north of Brainerd Road and Belvoir Avenue, is free and open to the public most Sunday evenings during the school year.

* Fun fact: In the 1940s, there was a harness horse racing track near Brainerd Hills.