CHRISTINE PEOPLES: But we really want to open it up, you know, so that people, when they come, they're not just coming to see, oh, this is just a wonderful building, but it's serving a purpose like it did back then, in so many different ways.

But it is a purpose that we need today.

[country music] Historically, the church has often been the epicenter of African-American communities.

Built in 1932, Timmons Temple Church of God in Christ served their congregation in Springfield for more than 80 years until they outgrew the small church, and it was sold to developers, and slated for demolition.

Local citizens organized fundraisers to save the building, and it was moved to Silver Springs Park in 2015, and renamed Timmons Hall.

Our guest today is Christine Peoples, Timmons Hall education coordinator with Springfield-Greene County Parks.

We'll be talking about the unique history of Timmons Hall, and how it is continuing the legacy of education, resilience, and unity in the African-American community.

NARRATOR: Ozarks Public Television and Missouri State University are proud to present "OzarksWatch Video Magazine," a locally-produced program committed to increasing the understanding of the richness and complexity of Ozarks culture.

Visit our website for more information.

[country music] Well, welcome to the show, and this is going to be a very special show today.

And I really appreciate your taking time to talk to us.

Thank you.

I appreciate it.

Well, before we get started in talking about this beautiful building, why don't you tell us a little bit about yourself, and how you got here, and what you're currently doing, and your role at Timmons?

Well, I'm Christine Peoples, and I'm the education coordinator for Springfield-Greene County Park Board underneath special facilities.

And how I got here, that's a story within itself.

Yeah, we were having a good conversation before the show started.

But definitely, it wasn't my choice to come to Springfield.

My mom, just her famous saying is, the devil's not going to get my baby.

[laughter] So actually, when I was 16, I graduated from high school, and my mom literally delivered me here.

[laughing] So one of our-- an assistant pastor had started a church here.

And so that's how I became to be in Springfield.

And it was challenging because I was young, but then I grew to love it.

And over time-- you know, I was going back and forth to Kansas because I was living in Kansas at the time.

And I go back and forth to get my hair done because it just wasn't-- wasn't able to get what I needed here.

But over time, I just-- one day, I just said, you know what?

I'm going back home.

And at home was Springfield.

And I was like, wow, I don't believe I said that.

But I love the pace, and I love the people.

And I've always been in community work.

I am an outreach minister, as well.

And so it really helps me to be the education coordinator for this space because Timmons is a gorgeous building.

I've learned to appreciate folks that, I guess, really make the community through the churches because me coming from-- I actually-- Timmons is-- the denomination is the Church of God in Christ.

And I actually came up in the Church of God in Christ, and was actually-- sang in this very church, you know-- and it was a big thing, churches like this, when it came to young people and singing.

And it's a Holiness Church.

That's what makes it different from the other churches in the area, because they believe in clapping, and dancing, and adding music.

Oh, my goodness, adding music to singing.

And if you went to a Catholic Church, you know, nobody's like, yeah-- Little quieter?

CHRISTINE PEOPLES: Little bit different.

Right.

And so when the Methodist and Baptist Church it's more of those old hymnals, and things like this.

So really inspired by the whole-- I should say, the whole thrust of being a part of Church of God in Christ.

So when it came to being able to be the coordinator of this space, oh, man, that was a no-brainer.

Yeah, a no-brainer.

We'll talk a lot about Timmons, but let's go back a little bit.

And I was always-- I've always been impressed with the role of the churches-- and there's churches, plural-- in the Black community.

They play a very significant role.

Can you talk a little bit about that, and-- Well, in times past, and going way back to enslavement, that was the sanctuary.

That was the North Star.

And the churches, they played a role in protecting people, showing them resources, showing resources, helping them.

And throughout history, it's just been that the churches was that form of safety.

No matter what church you went to, if it was a African-American church, you were able to get shelter, find resources for your family.

And I think about, during the times of segregation, and when folks are trying to get laws passed, and get voting rights, and all of that, Martin Luther King stood behind the podium of her church.

All of these civil rights activists utilized the church, and formed, actually, coalitions through the churches, no matter what the denomination was.

Here in Springfield, you're always having some type of a platform where someone is coming in, whether it's time to vote, et cetera.

And so to some extent, that's still used, but it's used more for the gathering of leisure, the gathering of learning your city, learning the laws, this type of thing.

And I think that the church really changes its form to meet the needs of the community.

And so I think the significance of the churches here in Springfield, when you look back on the history of those, they had cojoined services where they would shut their doors down, and come in and worship with one of the churches, whether it was an Easter dinner, or something that was happening significant as Freedom Day, or something like this.

So I think there is a unity within the churches.

And everyone knows each other, you know?

And there were several denominations, and that didn't really keep people apart.

I mean it was-- No.

Gibson, I love Gibson.

It's no longer here, but it's still a part of the history trail.

And going into it, I saw an older women, hair done, and dressed to the nines, right?

I always call it the bougie church.

[laughter] But it was a good-- I mean, these were like just seasoned, beautiful women.

And a lot of the money that was raised in churches like that-- and that was the church that you knew, every year, they would have a bazaar.

And you would go, and there's just beautiful things-- and could cook, could cook, could cook.

So you just had jewels in each of the churches.

Washington Avenue, I was privileged to be one of the associate ministers at Washington Avenue.

They did a lot with Missouri State student-- just open up doors so they could learn, and be a part of that atmosphere, so that when you talk about African-American studies, instead of just talking about it, you've experienced something in the church, a part of a community.

So I think that that's the willingness for each of these churches.

Benton Avenue, I love that church.

They opened their arms to young people, and they had a fashion show at in the basement of the area.

They did a lot of things that just brought community together.

So I think the unity of all of these churches was really significant to Springfield.

And still today, they come together.

Yeah, I love the way you really light up when you start talking about the different churches and your experiences.

It's obviously been something that's been very important to you.

Yeah, definitely, it has, because away from home, I learned the community through the churches, you know, and who was there for you.

And if you had a question, if you wanted to know about history, they would always say, ask Miss Alma.

Did you ask Miss Alma?

So I was like, I got to find out, who was Miss Alma?

And today, she's one of our history keepers that I gleaned from.

So, yeah.

Yeah.

Let's talk a little bit about Timmons-- Timmons Temple.

We'll talk about that first, before we talk about Timmons Hall.

But when was it established, and what was the congregation size, roughly?

It was established in 1932.

The congregation size, when I remember it, at age 17, probably like 80 people.

Small building, but it was full.

I think that you probably get 100 in the building itself.

Yeah.

You were telling me for the singing, if you were in the choir, you had to stay outside.

But if you're a soloist, you could just come on in.

[laughter] Well, yeah, because well they didn't have room.

I mean, to the back doors, every seat-- that's beautiful.

Like, every seat was full, you know?

And so the church was thriving, but the choirs wouldn't line up in the outside to come in to sing, and then go back out, and actually go around this side door.

And then the other choirs would come in, but, hey, if you had a solo, you could come on in.

[laughter] I had a couple of them solos.

That had to be a proud moment for you.

CHRISTINE PEOPLES: Yeah.

Ah, yeah, it was.

For your mom, as well, I imagine.

Yeah, for sure.

And, you know-- well, see, the acoustics are amazing, right?

Yeah, they really are.

I was just noticing it because someone came in and started talking, and everything was-- so it was-- the building itself was located several-- Like 600-- --600 feet from here here.

Yes, mm-hmm.

And right up the Hill.

--Silver Springs Park, and it's beautiful setting.

And it's a gorgeous building.

I love the stone.

Oh, yeah.

So they were going-- I guess, now, when did the actual church services stop in this-- do you know?

Actually, they were going until the building was sold.

It was sold, and the church sold-- the building itself was moved here in 2015, and it sat while they were remodeling and all of that til 2019, and opened up.

So, really, the congregation was still there until-- because they had outgrown the building, but they were still having services.

So now, where did the congregation reloc-- where did the church relocate?

It's not Timmons, but where did-- No.

[interposing voices] Actually, what is the name of the church?

They changed their name-- Sanctuary of Praise.

JIM BAKER: OK.

Yes.

So they just outgrew the church, and then-- CHRISTINE PEOPLES: Yes.

And they sold it.

And then I guess the thought was it was going to be demolished?

Yes, because the developers, they had bought the church, and so they were going to demolish the church.

And right now, you've got the apartment buildings that are up there.

And so Friends of Timmons Temple was formed.

And I believe the first person that really saw the beauty of the church was Lori Tack, and Paula Ringer came alongside of her shortly after that.

And then, of course, Denny Wayne was a part of that group.

And so they just started looking at the beautiful aesthetics of the church, and the stones, and how they were placed.

And you can go around the building, and see starbursts.

And you can see-- it's beautiful-- a heart was in-- a red heart in the middle of these stones.

And then around the door on the side, the stones are just meticulously placed, and it was just gorgeous.

So they were like, we really have to save this, you know?

And-- I'm sorry, but Denny Wayne was on city council then, right?

Yes, he was.

Yes, yes.

Knew him quite well.

Yeah, amazing.

Now, see, those are colorful stories within yourself because-- JIM BAKER: Yeah, he was-- I mean, he was all-- now, talk about somebody dressed to the nines.

Oh, yeah.

Yes.

A very passionate, beautiful man.

But yes, it was his desire to see Timmons saved.

So he was a part of that.

And so they just challenged the community, and started raising money.

And that group, its whole mission was to save Timmons Temple.

So it took several years to get it moved to this current spot, and then-- well, it didn't take several years to move it.

But it took several years, then, to start doing the renovations.

Yes.

Yes.

And it's absolutely a gorgeous building.

These floors-- Yeah, the floors.

--I'd like to have these at my house, actually.

But these floors are beautiful.

Were you saying they were covered with carpet, or-- Yeah, it was carpet.

It was carpet on the floors.

And they pulled the carpet up, and, of course, there was a lot of the glue, and everything.

They did an amazing job.

And what I really love about, even like with the bathrooms being here, the plumbing, the electricity, there were students from OTC that did this work.

I was just so amazed at everyone coming together.

I feel like that Lori Tack had some great friends, and contacts, and folks that really just wanted to help to do the right thing, because it's beautiful.

The floors-- you can see the floors, just from side-to-side, that they're just gorgeous.

And I'm sorry, I don't know-- I don't remember the company that did it.

But yeah, it was just everywhere for a while.

I was like, oh.

But, oh, man, the results you can see are beautiful.

The bathrooms are gorgeous.

They're a nice size.

And we're sitting on the stage right here.

Well, it was actually the pulpit area that we're sitting on.

And I actually just show like-- project on the wall-- for any of the presentations that we do, I like to keep it in its shape and form because I feel like when you start doing too much, you'll take from the character of the space.

Yeah, we were talking about, if you want to take an old building, the best thing you can do for it is to restore it to what it looked like originally because it always brings out that beauty that's kind of gotten hidden over the years with people putting different things in it, and often we paint walls, and stuff like that.

But this is an absolutely gorgeous space.

And we'll talk a little bit about how it's used currently.

It always fascinated me that, when a church was kind of like-- oh, I didn't know exactly the term, but when it's no longer a church or considered a house of worship, it goes through a change.

And so Timmons Temple essentially-- and you were explaining to me earlier how it became Timmons Hall, because of the educational use, and the kinds of things.

How did you go through that process of saying, OK, we're going to make this an education venue, a place that-- or you can do all kinds of events in here, I guess, because of the size of the space, and everything?

Well, when it becomes property of the Park Board, we then began on how to shape that-- what that-- what does that look like?

And it is an African-American church, and will be known for that.

But for it to be fellowshipped into the community, and to have the best use, we came up with a name, Timmons Hall.

We were mulling around a couple of things, and it just seemed to fit.

And I personally love the inviting spirit that I feel behind the name.

And then, on top of it, we do educational programs-- cultural and historic events.

And so we really want to open it up so that people, when they come, they're not just coming to see, oh, this is just a wonderful building, but it's serving a purpose-- like it did back then, in so many different ways.

But it is a purpose that we need today.

And so to be able to feel-- I still feel like the germination from folks that really had a heart to have something beautiful, you know-- and to be able to worship, and invite families in.

And you can still feel it.

So I think that the significance of being in proximity, that's really important.

And so when we do educational things, we're actually sharing the history of education through the space that we're in, and we never leave Timmons out.

We always talk about Timmons Hall, formerly Timmons Temple, but the idea is that it resonates community.

It resonates community.

And are there still former congregation members that are still alive that have the opportunity to come in, and everything?

Oh, yes.

They must be happy to see the place still.

Oh, yes.

Oh my.

Oh, so many stories.

I remember a couple comes in-- we got married right there.

We met right here.

And this is where they got married.

And I had-- at the time, we had a piano over to the side.

There was a couple that came in, and they just sat down, and started playing.

And I didn't know who they were, but they were just like, (SINGING) I'm running for my life.

They're just-- and then her husband, you know, (SINGING) anybody asks you.

You know, and they just-- it's just like nothing's ever changed.

So then I got to know that these folks were actually-- Pastor Knox that's over at Deliverance Temple, this was his church.

Oh?

This was his church.

Really?

CHRISTINE PEOPLES: Yes.

He actually-- a lot of the things that he does at Deliverance Temple, it came from how they ran things here.

So this was actually a member of his family that was sitting on the piano, and she was with her husband.

And so we got to talking, and I thought, oh, this is awesome.

So yeah, they feel like, when they come through those doors, nothing's changed for them.

Yeah, I always thought when you demolish a building, you're doing a lot more than tearing down a structure.

You're taking away a lot of memories, a lot of stories, a lot of people's lives that were so important to them.

And so it's-- to me, it's always a blessing when you see a building that's restored.

I love restored buildings.

This is fun to be in today.

So what are some of the events that you hold in here-- just some typical things that you do?

Well, I'm proud of every event that we do, but Freedom Classroom 101 is an annual event that we have.

And it jumps off Black History Month, so it's the first Thursday or Friday of February.

And we'll have local, regional, and national folks take the stage that help us to research, rethink, and reimagine how African-American studies is presented, and things that are happening in our community and our world.

And so the first folks that we had here was the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.

And, oh, it was beautiful.

Kreshaun McKinney was down, and that's where we did the 2019 grand opening.

So that started off our first event, and then we've had-- was it LeGarrette King, which started his own Black curriculum.

And he's over at the state university.

He's in Buffalo.

So he just talked about looking through Black folks' lenses, and how we are presenting the history.

I love to talk about the history of agency when it comes to being creative in spite of, you know?

And so we've had speakers like that, and then Akbar Cook, principal in Newark, New Jersey.

We've just really been blessed.

And the city live streams are Freedom Classroom 101 sessions, and it's on CityView.

You can see those there.

We've just been very fortunate that people understand that we need to have some cultured educational things happening here.

So that's one of the things that's annually.

Then our history keepers, I couldn't do anything without them.

We've got history keepers that range from as young as 70, all the way up-- [laughter] That's starting to sound young to me.

All the way up to 98.

Well, that's the foundation that I really want to capture their stories.

And we were so privileged to be able to collaborate with the State Historical Society.

And they filmed interviews for us, as well as we gave them subjects to study with their upcoming projects.

And also, we have Juneteenth celebrations, and we also have-- Park Day is a really big one.

This last year, we actually were still able to show "Generations"-- I was so excited-- the documentary-- the new documentary that's out.

And I'm very excited about that because it gives me resources that I can take with me when I do presentations so people can understand the community because if you're not part of the community, you don't understand it.

And so that was very well done by Mr. Dax Bedell.

I'm so excited about that.

So it just gives us opportunity to reach more people.

So the other things that we do, as far as educational things, we just did Summer Explore with SPS.

So we had like-- we were scaled at 1,300 kids that were going to be coming through, and we were doing things with them so they would learn the history and the celebrations that we have.

Then I work with the students at the performing arts with the Little Theatre.

They come in, and we scout outside.

We look at the building.

One thing that they really loved is finding the sunburst around the buildings, and counting them, and mapping out the different things in the park.

But we're just really fortunate to have SPS as our partner, the Springfield-Greene County Library.

They were being amazing.

We often use books that help to lead the way on our events that we do-- educational events.

We work with the kids.

So I just can't say enough about how the space is really helping to educate folks, and we're doing it through our city, and we're doing it regionally, and nationally.

So do you go out from-- you don't always stay here.

You actually go out into the community, and do presentations-- Yes.

--as well.

CHRISTINE PEOPLES: Yes.

So it's-- and we just got a couple minutes.

So if people want to know-- if they wanted to come and visit, and come and see the facility-- the facility-- the church, is there appointments?

Are there times that it's open, or is it mostly just for the venues, just for the events?

Well, just a little bit of both.

JIM BAKER: A little bit of both.

So if they will get a hold of me, cpeoples@springfield.gov, I will be able to have an appointment with them, and come through the events that we have, where-- that's on our website.

And as far as, gosh, just being able to pop in, you really-- I have-- Yes.

Yeah, I'm sure.

I'm here.

I'm doing events, and doing things like this, but I have an office, too.

So a lot of times, they don't know this is not my office.

[laughing] Yeah, so to be able to just-- and if you say Timmons Hall, and just call the Park Board, that's sufficient.

Well, [mutters].

I would encourage people to come, because one of the things, is this is like a window into a really fascinating community of people.

So Thank you very much for talking to me today, and sorry the time went by so fast.

I know, right?

Thank you very much.

You're so welcome.

Thank you.

We'll be back in a moment.

NARRATOR: Ozarks Public Television and Missouri State University are proud to present "OzarksWatch Video Magazine," a locally-produced program committed to increasing the understanding of the richness and complexity of Ozarks culture.

Visit our website for more information.

[country music] I'd like to thank Christine Peoples for talking with us today about the fascinating history and legacy of Timmons Temple.

Please join us again next time on "OzarksWatch Video Magazine."

[country music]