WINONA LAKE – Kosciusko Leadership Academy 2011-2012 class had its final session Tuesday at the Westminster Hall/Reneker Museum in Winona Lake to hear Dr. Steve Grill, of Grace College, share on the history of Winona Lake.
Grill started the session by saying that the KLA experience was an opportunity. He posed the question to the students, “What kind of community do you want in the future?”
Grill pointed out that this area has a wonderful infusion of people looking to the future and that the KLA students were going to be the people deciding what the community would look like in the future. Grill emphasized the students now knew more about this area than many of the people residing in the county.
He then began tracing the rich commercial, religious and cultural heritage of Winona Lake, referring to its spirit of entrepreneurship and creativity.
Grill began with the arrival of the German immigrant Beyer brothers who eventually owned all of the property around Winona Lake and became successful business owners. He shared how a chance encounter on a train of one of the Beyer brothers with the Rev. Solomon Dickey led to Winona Lake becoming the largest U.S. Bible conference site and the second largest Chautauqua in the whole world.
After sharing various historical tidbits, Grill led the students to the Reneker Museum, telling about the Spring Fountain Park and its colorful and exciting Fourth of July celebrations that included sinking war ships in the lake as part of its festivities.
The session ended with a walking tour of some of Winona Lake’s treasures where Grill expounded on Winona Lake’s transition from a Bible conference and Chautauqua site to the formation of the present-day Village at Winona as an artisan community.
The next meeting will be Project Proud April 10 at 7 a.m. and will be held at the County Annex. White Paper groups will present their projects that will be judged for the opportunity to win the coveted Jean Northenor Award.
