In 1946 veterans returning to college on the GI Bill needed housing for themselves and their families and needed it immediately. UT responded by providing trailers on the Hill, the agriculture campus, and barracks at Sutherland Village. Some veterans had trailers, however, and there was no place to park them. The owner of 1313 West Clinch Avenue, a veteran himself, allowed five couples to park their trailers on the grounds of his private residence. Soon, however, neighbors objected, and pointed out that this was a violation of City zoning ordinances. The matter was brought to the city council, with students pleading for a temporary waiver of the zoning ordinances and the neighborhood residents strongly opposing the request.
Mayor Cas Walker devised an acceptable plan for student trailers by allocating a vacant plot of land above the Tyson Park Picnic area to be leased for $10 a month for student trailers. Twenty trailers were quickly in residence, and outside bathrooms and laundry facilities were installed by the City. The arrangement ceased in 1950, with veterans beginning to graduate and the housing shortage eased.