From collection Henry Marnett Postcard Collection
Interior of "Billy Sunday" Tabernacle, Admiral Blvd. and Lydia St., Kansas City, Missouri
In 1916, long before the TV evangelists made religion big business, Kansas Citians built this canvas and wood tabernacle at Admiral and Lydia, in the northeast section of Kansas City. Fifteen carloads of lumber were used. The 215-by-302 foot structure was larger than old Convention Hall. Seating capacity, 12,000 and standing room for 4,000 more. Here William Ashley Sunday, better known as Billy, evangelist and ex-baseball player, spoke eloquently from a platform over which hung a banner Kansas City for Christ. During the seven weeks of the Kansas City revival, 92 sermons were preached. A. Mills, a member of Sunday's staff, trained the thousands of men in the local choir. They were ready when Sunday arrived. During their stay in Kansas City, Sunday and his staff of 40, were given the use of the greystone mansion of Judge William Hockaday Wallace, at 3200 Norledge Street. The Wallace family packed bags and stayed with relatives in Independence. (The Wallace home today serves as an annex to the Kansas City Museum of History and Science.) A front-page story in The Star reported on the final tearful farewell, after Sunday's last sermon, June 18, 1916. A total of 1,356,000 persons had attended and 20,646 of them hit the sawdust trail. Ministers of Kansas City said several thousands were converted in the meetings, who did not come forward. A final thanks offering of $32,000 was made on the last night here. A certified check for that amount was given Sunday just before his train left.
