Our Community, Our Commitment

Working together to foster connection, support local priorities, and help Lyons View thrive.

Our Purpose

Our work centers on preserving Lyons View’s history, strengthening connections among neighbors, supporting community gatherings, and advancing projects that help the community thrive today and for future generations.

SERVING OUR COMMUNITY

Preserving stories, documents, photos, and lived experiences that connect generations and carry Lyons View’s legacy forward.

❋ History Preservation

Creating opportunities for neighbors to connect, stay informed, share ideas, and participate in the life of the community.

❋ Events and Community Meetings

Supporting projects that strengthen shared spaces, encourage community pride, and con tribute toLyons View.

❋ Community Improvement Projects

The Lyons View Community Club is dedicated to preserving the history and supporting the continued vitality of Lyons View’s historically Black community.

The roots of the community date back to the years following emancipation and the Civil War, though the presence of African-descended people in the area began even earlier. One important figure in that history was William Looney, known to fellow churchgoers as Brother Looney. After gaining his freedom, Looney purchased a significant amount of land in Lyons View and later donated a portion of it to the growing community.

THE STORY OF LYONS VIEW

Our History

That land became home to Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church and a cemetery along Lyons View Pike. The congregation later purchased an adjacent property where Lyons View School was established, providing generations of Black children with a strong educational foundation through the mid-1960s.

Nearby, families built homes and created a close-knit residential community of approximately 70 households. At its center was a playground and recreation center where children, families, and neighbors gathered, strengthening the relationships that defined Lyons View.

Through faith, education, family, and community, generations of Lyons View residents built institutions of their own and created a lasting legacy. Their contributions helped shape Knoxville’s history and laid the foundation for the community that continues today.

The Lyons View Community Club is committed to honoring that legacy, preserving its stories, and ensuring that future generations understand the people and places that made Lyons View what it is.

Explore the Community Archive

Step back through Lyons View’s history with a growing collection of photographs, documents, and community materials that preserve the people, places, and moments that shaped Lyons View.