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I read an interesting article published by The Knoxville News-Sentinel on February 13, 2008. Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) announced its plan to establish a new night law school in downtown Knoxville’s Old City Hall.

The building has been vacant since 2004 when the Knoxville Area Chamber Partnership (KACP) relocated its headquarters to Market Square in the heart of the city. The 66, 000 square foot building was constructed in 1848 as the Tennessee School for the Deaf (TSD). The school closed during the Civil War, although both sides used it at different times for military barracks and a military hospital.

The school reopened in 1866 and in 1922, the building sold to the City of Knoxville. The structure served as the seat of government until 1980 when the new City-County Building was completed.

LMU officials are now seeking accreditation for the school to have the first class of 100-150 students enrolled by the fall of 2009.

Lincoln Memorial University is located in Harrogate, Tennessee, near the Kentucky border about 60 miles northeast from Knoxville, Tennessee. The university was named in honor of President Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln was a lawyer in his younger days.

It is good that the school will occupy one of the city’s most visible and historic buildings that needs a permanent tenant.

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