Wise County Heritage Museum

History:

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, along with the support of 20 Wise County men who pledged $1,000 each plus many smaller pledges from others. The home of the world's oldest planned junior college, the school was a preparatory school for Baylor University until it moved to Dallas in 1965 and became Dallas Baptist University. Dr. J.L. Ward served as President of DBC in Decatur for 2 separate terms totaling about 44 years.  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.

Today the museum is alive with the activity of preserving Wise County's past. The museum is the headquarters for the Wise County Historical Commission and the Wise County Historical Society, Inc. Together they educate citizens about the past through presentations and through the museum.  The Museum is kept in operation by donations, admissions fees, sales from the gift shop and various fund-raising events throughout the year. Members attend conferences and work to keep the archives updated.

A ramp and elevator are available to make the museum accessible to the physically challenged.

Past renovation projects including new restrooms, carpeting, painting. landscaping, sidewalks and outdoor lighting  have  been installed as well as a security system, new wiring.  The outside rock walls have been completely reworked. The windows have been replaced with new windows that really make a huge improvement to the looks of the building inside and out. The wall behind the stage  and throughout the auditorium have been repaired and painted. It looks so nice and makes the whole auditorium look so different. New stage curtains have been added and a new ceiling  installed with new lights and ceiling fans.  The heightening of the railing and painting around the balcony is completed. If we have an overflow in the auditorium or if people would like to sit on the balcony it is now safer.  Attic rafters were repaired where a tornado raised the roof and pulled the rafters  loose from their splicing.  The elevator is inspected annually to ensure safety. New shelving in our Archive Library and a  microfilm reader with the ability to copy information to the computer have been added.  New computer system has been installed. We are making changes in our show cases and the display rooms.  The third floor is open for viewing.  In one room there is a one room school house and an old fashioned mercantile store.  Across the hall is the Sam Sampler room.  This is a Military room with memorabilia, artifacts and uniforms beginning from the American Civil War to the present day war in Iraq.

Outside we replaced gutters and down spouts, installed a new roof and added new hand rails at the front entrance of building.  We have a new sidewalk and wheelchair ramp at the side entrance to the Museum, and replaced the back door coming into the building.

Sam Woody’s Cabin has been moved from it's original location and placed on the front lawn of the Museum.  This can be opened for tours during Museum hours, but is often the subject of pictures at any time

Our second floor Lost Battalion Room is one of our largest draws.  It honors the memories and great sacrifices of the men of the 131st Field Artillery, Second Battalion and survivors of the Cruiser, USS Houston (CA30).  These soldiers were captured by the Japanese and held in forced labor camps for three and one half years where they were tortured and starved.  These men built the railroad using only hard labor, through the jungle leading to the Bridge over the River Kwai.