James Banks Wins “Name the Tower” Contest with Entry that Ties to Civil War Site
Over 1,100 people submitted names for the contest through the website, NameTheTower.com, with prizes ranging from $1000 cash for first place to gift certificates to local stores and restaurants for 37th place.
Today, the property’s developer, Stanley Mohr of Vols Equities LLC of New York, announced that Banks penned the property’s new name, The Tower at Morgan Hill, and presented him with a check.
Banks thought of the name based on the recent archaeological discovery that the apartment tower is located near an historic Civil War site. The area is known today as Morgan Hill. The discovery of Civil War trenches was made during archaeological surveys in preparation for the University of Tennessee’s Sorority Village, which is directly across Kingston Pike from the tower. There, archaeologists uncovered what they believe to be the only archaeologically-confirmed Confederate battle site in all of Knoxville.
Steve Dean, president of the East Tennessee Civil War Alliance, who is advising the University of Tennessee on the excavations, said, “It is very likely the rifle trenches, though not the gun emplacements, extended onto the tower property. Captain Orlando Poe’s maps have proved remarkably accurate. I am not sure exactly where the modern building sits in regard to his map, but it seems very likely the trenches crossed onto the property, if not directly under the building.”
Morgan Hill is not a name that was used during the Civil War era, but it seems likely to have been named later for the UT College of Agriculture Dean, Harcourt Morgan.
“The timing of the archaeological find and this competition could not have been better,” said Marcia West of Wood Properties, which is doing leasing and management for the property. “It provided us with an opportunity to not only give this beautiful residential building a new name, but also to have the tower tie to the rich history of its community and the very ground on which it stands.”
Dr. Jeff Chapman of University of Tennessee’s McClung Museum says an exhibit will be opening in the coming months that showcases the Morgan Hill excavations.
Renovations to The Tower at Morgan Hill were designed by Faris Eid of Design Innovations Architects. The property is currently pre-leasing fully furnished 1 and 2 bedroom units for occupancy in Fall 2010.
For more information, please visit www.toweratmorganhill.com or call (865) 544-1544.
For Immediate Release
For information contact:
Chuck Morris
Morris Creative Group LLC
865-637-9869
[email protected]
