History
Canadians, Confederates & Co-eds
The Tower at Morgan Hill takes its name from Harcourt A. Morgan, who once owned the property across Kingston Pike, just south of the Tower. A Canadian by birth, Morgan served as Dean of the College of Agriculture at UT and later as the University’s thirteenth president. He lived from 1867 to 1950.
The Tower traces its history back even further, to the American Civil War. A recent archeological excavation uncovered what may be the only confirmed Confederate trenches in all of Knoxville. Maps from the 1860s, drawn by Captain Orlando Poe, show with remarkable accuracy where the rifle trenches crossed the property very near where the building now stands.
One hundred and fifty years later, skirmishes with Gators and other intruders only happen at Neyland Stadium. College students have replaced the soldiers, and the area has the double appeal of a rich history and convenient location.
