The origins of the Museum trace back
to 1891 when the Northwest Texas Baptist Association founded Northwest
Baptist College, a four-year institution in Decatur. The first
classes were held in the old opera house located on East Main Street,
just off the square. Land for the site was purchased through
real estate agent C. D. Cates of Decatur. The contract for
the administration building was let to S. C. Kilgard of Denison.
The first classes were held in the new administration building in
September 1893. The institution's first president was Dr.
A. J. Emerson, who served for four years until the school went bankrupt
in 1896.
The following year, the Baptist Convention
bought the property and turned it into Decatur Baptist College,
through the support of 20 Wise County men who pledged $1,000 each.
The home of the world's oldest junior
college, the school was a preparatory school for Baylor University
until it moved to Dallas in 1965 and became Dallas Baptist College.
It is now known as Dallas Baptist University. The last president
of Decatur Baptist College was Dr. Otis Strickland.
After the college moved, a Decatur businessman,
Coke L. Gage, bought the property and then donated the building
and approximately one acre of land to the Wise County Historical
Society, Inc. for a museum. It now houses one of the best
family research facilities in the area, an auditorium, and a museum.
Restoration of the museum has been ongoing
since 1965. Tom Cone and Ryan Cunnius, both of Decatur, organized
an annual country music festival called the Wise Country Fall Out
to raise funds. The show features local talent.
All events are held in the G. C. Rann Auditorium on the second floor
of the museum. The late G. C. Rann and his wife Maurine and
the citizens of Decatur began restoration of the auditorium, and
the completion of the restoration process is the museum's next big
project.
Fund-raising events have helped the
museum's ongoing renovation projects, including new restrooms, carpeting,
and painting. Landscaping and sidewalks have also been installed
as well as a security system, new wiring, and work on the rock walls.
A ramp and elevator are available to
make the museum accessible to the physically challenged.
