Blue Springs Way, a historic wagon road

According to Sevier County land records, a major portion of the road now called Blue Springs Way was used by W.B. Emert and others to access their mountain farms.  In about 1909 it extended from “the top of the mountain” to the main road.  It therefore included the portion of Willow Tree Road between Blue Springs Way and Wears Valley Road.  On Feb 16, 1909  W.B. Emert and his wife donated land to the Wearwood Academy (now the Wearwood school)  just to the west of Blue Springs Way.  Mr Emert died in 1912 and his wife died in 1924.   In 1936 (according to a TVA map) the portion of Willow Tree road (east of Blue Springs Way) did not exist and Blue Springs Way provided the access to the adjacent land to the east. E. Wearwood Drive (to the West of Blue Springs Way) provided access to the school. Both E Wearwood Drive and Willow Tree Roads are no wider than Blue Springs Way.  Sevier County maintains them as a County Roads but (until now) has refused to maintain Blue Springs Way. According to the letter of Larry Waters this is because the road is “private”. The fact is that Blue Springs Way has been in public use for many years. The only aspect of the road that remains private is that it is privately maintained. Some property owners have refused to grant easements so it can be widened –but it is already as wide as other roads in the area. Blue Springs Way is a historic wagon road and portions of it are not very wide. That is no reason to deny taxpayers who must use it of mail delivery or of the health and safety benefits of proper maintenance.