Secret Town

Original Town Sites

Jackson Square – the original Townsite

Neighborhoods centered on the Townsite, which was designed to offer comprehensive shopping, recreation, and business facilities.  The high school, hospital and multifamily housing units were also located near the Townsite.  After completion, the area was named Town Center, but that name did not catch on, and residents continued to call it Townsite.  Later, it took on the name of Jackson Square.

The Army tried to provide adequate commercial outlets for consumer goods and services behind the fence.  Miller’s Department Store in 1944 grossed over $1.2 million.  Many shoppers were longing for the items that could be purchased back home in their own department stores.  Other shops in the area included Hall’s Shoes, the Hamilton Bank of Knoxville, Sutton’s Barbershop, The Arcade, McCrory’s 5 and 10 Cent Store, Post Office, Fire Station, and more.

Midtown Shopping provided a limited number of goods for sale to the residents of the trailer camps and hutments.  A gas station, grocery store, barber shop, and post office were among the shops.  Also on site were the Middletown Recreation Hall with a bowling alley and a movie theater.

Next: Blankenship Field