Billy Sunday Museum
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
So, just a few quick questions that hopefully spark a discussion.
Why did the Remnant Trust leave Winona Lake after only 4 short years of occupying the former Billy Sunday Visitor Center? Wasn't this organization supposed to be a great stabilizing factor for the Town? According to Wiki, the Remnant Trust has moved its collections (the third time in less than 8 years!) to Lubbock, Texas. Sounds like the Remnant Trust doesn't like to let the dust settle under its feet for long. I wonder why they don't stay put in one place, or ever seem to leave a community with warm feelings? Hmmm.
And how many people are touring the Billy and Helen Sunday home these days? Their home is a 1911 Arts and Crafts style gem, complete with original collections, which drew an average of 8,000 visitors every year for the eight years of its full time operation as a museum from 2000 until 2008, but how many come to see it now?
In 2008, the owners of the home Grace College had determined that the purpose of the Billy Sunday Museum had "run it's course," and it was the time for "new direction." Where has that direction led?
A beautiful yet vacant building in the heart of a community. The replacement tenant, the Remnant Trust is gone. The Sunday home sits on the bluff above it's old Visitor Center, built appropriately to resemble a miniature Billy Sunday Tabernacle, but only a handful of lucky souls with good timing and persistence get to experience this hidden treasure these days. Once a cultural hub attraction for the Village at Winona, the shops fight to get visitors with one hand tied behind their back.
The Visitor Center/Remnant Trust building awaits its purpose on the Winona Lake landscape like a classic car with an empty gas tank. Winona Lake needs Billy Sunday and Billy Sunday needs Winona Lake. Bring back the museum, and re-light the fire of one very important candle that made this town great.
Bill Firstenberger
Former director,
Billy Sunday Historic Site Museum
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So, just a few quick questions that hopefully spark a discussion.
Why did the Remnant Trust leave Winona Lake after only 4 short years of occupying the former Billy Sunday Visitor Center? Wasn't this organization supposed to be a great stabilizing factor for the Town? According to Wiki, the Remnant Trust has moved its collections (the third time in less than 8 years!) to Lubbock, Texas. Sounds like the Remnant Trust doesn't like to let the dust settle under its feet for long. I wonder why they don't stay put in one place, or ever seem to leave a community with warm feelings? Hmmm.
And how many people are touring the Billy and Helen Sunday home these days? Their home is a 1911 Arts and Crafts style gem, complete with original collections, which drew an average of 8,000 visitors every year for the eight years of its full time operation as a museum from 2000 until 2008, but how many come to see it now?
In 2008, the owners of the home Grace College had determined that the purpose of the Billy Sunday Museum had "run it's course," and it was the time for "new direction." Where has that direction led?
A beautiful yet vacant building in the heart of a community. The replacement tenant, the Remnant Trust is gone. The Sunday home sits on the bluff above it's old Visitor Center, built appropriately to resemble a miniature Billy Sunday Tabernacle, but only a handful of lucky souls with good timing and persistence get to experience this hidden treasure these days. Once a cultural hub attraction for the Village at Winona, the shops fight to get visitors with one hand tied behind their back.
The Visitor Center/Remnant Trust building awaits its purpose on the Winona Lake landscape like a classic car with an empty gas tank. Winona Lake needs Billy Sunday and Billy Sunday needs Winona Lake. Bring back the museum, and re-light the fire of one very important candle that made this town great.
Bill Firstenberger
Former director,
Billy Sunday Historic Site Museum
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