FOOTSTEPS OF
MOUNT WESLEY

1892	Epworth League organized on a statewide level in Dallas under Bishop Joseph S. Key to sponsor yearly gathering at different Texas cities. 300 first year; 10,000 three years later.
1906	Beach front property near Corpus Christi established as permanent statewide meeting site and named "Epworth-by-the-Sea".
1915	Corpus Christi property sold; permanent "Epworth-by-the-Sea" facilities built at Port O'Connor.
1919	Hurricane wrecked property; abandoned.  Conferences on their own for meeting sites
1923	A Fall meeting of the West Texas Annual Conference adopted the following: "Resolution for the establishment of the West Texas Encampment Association under the direction and supervision of the West Texas Conference of the Methodist Church South."  Committee of five clergy - H.M. Draper, S.H.C. Burgin, S.L. Batchelor, J.F. Simpson and A.J. More - and five laymen - W.M. Chambers, G.W. Walling, Jr., H.E. Jackson, Judge M.A. Childers, Judge W.R. Perkins, were appointed to select a site. In October, the Kerrville Chamber of Commerce proposed a site of 200 acres to the Methodist Conference Assembly held in Gonzalez.  The cost of $11,500 was raised and paid for by the citizens of Kerr County and land was deeded to the West Texas Encampment Association. 1924 - On April 1, 1924, to acquaint Methodists with the location and see for themselves the possibilities that were in store, a barbecue dinner was held on the property. Streets and lots were laid out and 130 lots were sold the first year at a value of $26,000.  The money was used for roads, a water system, and lighting.  First facilities included a screened kitchen and dining hall, a tabernacle, and several screened cottages.

CONSTRUCTION FACTS

1927 - Epworth Lodge Dormitory
1939 - Moore Auditorium (enclosed in 1949)
1949- Susannah Meeting House; kitchen added in 1977
1950 - Faculty Row/Heritage Hill remodeled and again in 1977; Haver Pavilion (Gazebo);
1950 - Swimming Pool; Mann Dormitory; Alma Thomas Chapel/Mission Center
1953 - Cluster Housing Units 6 & 7 (Cabins 11-14)
1954 - Karl Downs Hall (Studios); Cluster Housing Units 4, 5 & 6 (Cabins 7-10 & 15-16); 1954 - Floyd Curl Lodge (remodeled in 1977)
1955 - Cluster Housing Units 1,2, & 3 (Cabins 1-6)
1956 - Wilson Building; restrooms added in 1979
1959 - Parsonage addition
1960 - Bell Tower
1962 - Old Office
1977 - Dining Hall; old Dining Hall floor became current patio
1991 - Remodeled Maintenance Superintendent's residence
1994 - New Maintenance Building; Old Maintenance Building converted to Arts & Crafts
2001- Periwinkle House demolished; Maintenance Superintendent's House demolished
2002 - Added heater in Alma Thomas Chapel; McAllen House demolished
2003 - Parsonage demolished; Methodist Encampment Road re-routed around campus/old road through campus abandoned
2004 - Moore Auditorium remodeled and re-named the Clyde Byrd Worship Center; Remodeled bathrooms in Karl Downs Hall (Studios B & C); Volleyball court built near the game field
2005 - MHM Health, Wellness & Nutrition Center opened (New Dining Hall & Infirmary); Remodeled Assistant Maintenance Superintendent's House; Proposed new RV park with 9 pull-through sites and 5 back- in sites plus a clubhouse/activity center.

2006- Swimming pool was remodeled and a poolside cabana built for shade. There is a shower installed for swimmers to rinse off before entering the pool. New restrooms w/showers are planned to be built nearby. The old kitchen is being renovated into an Agape room (Agape Room #2).

THE BOLIVIAN CROSS

Made in Bolivia out of "iron wood", a very hard, durable wood, the Bolivian Cross was a gift from the youth of Bolivia to the youth of the SWTC as a symbol of their shared love in Christ. 

The Rev. Albert Merubia, originally of Bolivia, was instrumental in coordinating the project. It was shipped by boat to the Texas Gulf Coast and was erected at the top of Mt. Wesley atop a pile of prayer rocks/stones in 1950. In return, 2 years later, a cross was constructed of Mt. Wesley cedar and sent to Bolivia. It has become a tradition at Mt. Wesley to pick up a rock/stone at the bottom of the hill, say a prayer over it and walk to the cross in silence and leave your rock/stone at the foot of the cross. In 1993 the benches were constructed as an Eagle Scout project.