African American Heritage Trail - Western Bible College

 The first building was found completely by accident.  You would be surprised how often our adventures from accidental discoveries.  I passed this building when visiting the Belger Crane Gallery in December.

Postcard of the The Gillis Orphans' Home and the 

Margaret Klock Armour Memorial Home for aged men and women.

The Gillis Orphans' Home called the Children's Home was built in 1900 by members of the YMCA. During the 1920s and 1930s, the property was expanded to 26 acres after the nearby Memorial Home changed buildings.  Ella C. Loose, wife of Jacob Loose, would give away a free pair of shoes and a dollar to all the orphans annually.

100th celebration for Western Bible College

This is the view from the street now.

The Western Baptist Bible College, established in 1889, is recognized as the oldest institute of Christian based religious learning west of the Mississippi established exclusively by African-Americans. In 1927 the school moved from Macon, Mo., to Kansas City after purchasing the Gillis Orphans’ Home and the Margaret Klock Armour Home for Aged Couples (now demolished) from the Women’s Christian Association. After the children were moved to new facilities, Western College began to use the orphanage and the home for the aged as their new campus. Western was forced to close its doors during the school year 1935-36 due to the Great Depression, but after reorganization, the school was reopened in August 1937 as Western Seminary.

This marker is for the 100th Celebration for Western Bible College

After the children were moved to new facilities, Western College began to use the orphanage and the home for the aged as their new campus. Western was forced to close its doors during the school year 1935-36 due to the Great Depression, but after reorganization, the school was reopened in August 1937 as Western Seminary.

With the research I have done I have learned this building is also part of the African American Heritage Trail.  The trail has over 40 stops so we will be working on that.

I also found one mention of a group receiving money to save this building.  I can not locate that now.

Hopefully, no more snow until what we have melts.

Until tomorrow.