On Dec. 29, 2011 the National Park Service of the U.S. Department of the Interior placed the Lenoir City War Memorial Building on the National Register of Historic Places.
The War Memorial Building was built in 1951, the building honors Loudon County soldiers from World War II.
According to retired Lenoir City history teacher Joe Spence, the structure, in addition to being headquarters of the American Legion, functioned like a community center during the 1950s, '60s and '70s.
"The city library was in one room there. They had a lot of dances, including teen dances and square dances," he said.
Many Lenoir City High School functions, including graduations, were held at the building.
The high school basketball team, including the 1958 state championship team, played in the memorial hall, Spence said.
The aging brick building remains an integral part of the community, Spence said.
The building is still used as election headquarters and as a forum for political debates. It is also used for special events including reunions and wedding receptions.