Editing Friendsville, Tennessee (section)

==History==
[[File:Friendsville-1942-tva1.gif|left|200px|thumb|Friendsville in 1942]]
Friendsville was founded by [[Quakers]] from New Garden, [[North Carolina]], who settled in the area in the 1790s. The town is still home to a [[Friends meeting house|Friends Meetinghouse]].<ref>Information obtained from Tennessee Historical Commission marker IE 57 in Friendsville, Tennessee.  Last accessed: December 25, 2007.</ref> In 1854, a group of British Quaker elders stayed here whilst promoting the [[Abolitionism in the United States|abolitionist]] cause with American leaders. During this visit, abolitionist leader [[William Forster (philanthropist)|William Forster]] died and was buried here.<ref>[[William Tallack]], ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=K59FAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA80 Friendly sketches in America]'' (London: A.W. Bennett, 1861), 80.  Retrieved: July 17, 2008.</ref>

In the 19th century, the Quakers wielded considerable influence in Blount County, and were partially responsible for the abolitionist movements arising in the county in the years leading up to the [[American Civil War|Civil War]]. Along with nearby [[Greenback, Tennessee|Greenback]] and possibly [[Cades Cove]], Friendsville provided a stop on the [[Underground Railroad]].<ref>Durwood Dunn, ''Cades Cove: The Life and Death of an Appalachian Community'' (Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press, 1988), 125.</ref> A cave (since filled in) near the Friends Meetinghouse was stocked with provisions by Quakers such as William J. Hackney to provide a stopover for fugitive slaves and later soldiers en route to join the [[Union (American Civil War)|Union]] army.<ref>"[http://histpres.mtsu.edu/tncivwar/ugrr/stations.html Underground Railroad - Tennessee Stations] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080110141616/http://histpres.mtsu.edu/tncivwar/ugrr/stations.html |date=2008-01-10 }}." The Center for Historic Preservation, Middle Tennessee State University (2005). Retrieved: December 29, 2007.</ref>

===Friendsville today===
K-5 education in Friendsville is provided by Friendsville Elementary School (part of [[Blount County Schools]]), which was once Friendsville High School. Boat launch facilities along [[Fort Loudoun Lake]] can be found at Gallahar Creek and Whispering Cove.

Friendsville is home to the [[Pellissippi State Community College]], Blount County Campus.