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Bethesda Academy, an award-winning school for boys in grades six through 12, hosted an invitational ribbon-cutting event at the new William H. Ford, Sr. Museum and Visitor Center Friday.
The state-of-the-art facility is expected to officially open in early March.
Bethesda Academy president David Tribble and Rollin Ford, executive vice president and chief administrative officer of Wal-Mart stores and son of William H. Ford, Sr., spoke in memory of Rev. William H. Ford, whose legacy the museum was built to honor.
Rev. Ford was the only Bethesda alum who also served as superintendent. As major supporters of the new museum, the Ford family wanted to honor their father for 19 years of service at Bethesda.
“There are a lot of memories that rushed back as we entered the gates of Bethesda today,” said Rollin Ford. “Bethesda Academy represents 273 years of history of developing young men who have literally reached out and touched the world. My father saw all of us as part of the overall fabric that, if woven together, could make a difference in this world, one child at a time. Changing lives in a positive direction for young men was his mission. He loved the community and the fellowship at Bethesda. It truly was his home and his family.”
The museum includes 2,200 square feet of exhibition space and features interactive exhibits, photographs, video, oral histories and artifacts.
The main exhibit hall also offers insight into early Georgia history, chronicles the founding of Bethesda in 1740, details early life at Bethesda and traces founder George Whitefield’s legacy.
“Bethesda welcomes approximately 20,000 visitors on campus each year, and this new museum and visitor center will allow us to share the fascinating story of Bethesda through informative, state-of-the-art exhibits,” Tribble said. “This exciting new facility will celebrate the historical role Bethesda has played in transforming young men and will allow us to share that story with new students, guests and visitors.”
ABOUT BETHESDA
Founded in 1740 by George Whitefield and James Habersham, Bethesda is the oldest child-care facility in the United States. Over the past three centuries, Bethesda has served more than 10,000 boys, each of whom has benefited from George Whitefield’s founding mission to teach “a love for God, a love of learning and a strong work ethic.”
ON THE WEB
Go to http://vimeo.com/58734574 to see Bethesda Academy president David Tribble talk about Bethesday Academy.
