EDITORIAL: Rethinking Baylor's historic village
We can all benefit from a new look from time to time. Whether it’s a new car or a new home, new landscaping or even a new ’do. Change brings about new possibilities.
Such is the case with Baylor University’s Bill and Vara Daniel Historic Village. The 19-year-old facility is in serious disrepair and, unfortunately, disregard.
Wood from the village is rapidly giving way to time and the fierce Texas elements, and the village’s precious authenticity demands something be done sooner rather than letting it rot away.
But before those pieces are resurrected in another form, we wonder if it would behoove Baylor officials — who after all have oversight of the village — to re-evaluate the public impact of the village and how and where it should be rebuilt. Is there a way to also revitalize this site through monthly activities?
This potentially fascinating interactive village — made possible through the generosity of one of Baylor’s most colorful donors, Gov. Bill Daniel and his wife Vara — isn’t drawing the clientele that it rightly should.
We can’t help but wonder if it’s the somewhat removed location and lack of activity.
Hidden behind the Mayborn Museum Complex and adjacent to the Baylor School of Law, beneath glorious old shady trees on prime waterfront real estate, this cool escape is almost too private for folks to know it’s even there.
It’s almost an afterthought for many in Waco. We say it should be a forethought.
This should be a destination location where children can learn what life was like in the latter part of the 19th century. The 13-acre site includes 15 wood framed buildings, some of which are being taken apart and reused for the planned renovation.
Mayborn director Ellie Caston says adding some elements, like a covered back porch to the back of the Mayborn Museum building, which abuts the village, will help draw more patrons to the village.
We have to wonder, however, if it really is a back-porch location?
Shouldn’t it have a front that is visible from the road and actively entices folks?
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