The original structure located in downtown Terre Haute was built just after 1900 by the U.S. Trust company building.
(Alex Eady, WTIU/WFIU News)
The CANDLES Holocaust Museum in Terre Haute aims to give visitors more than a lesson in history.
That’s because Holocaust survivor and Terre Haute resident, Eva Kor, founded the museum on a unique message she continues to spread to this day: forgiveness.
Eva and her sister Miriam were among the thousands of twins who were subjected to disturbing genetic experiments at the Auschwitz concentration camp. Together, Eva and Miriam were among only a few of the children who survived.
Holocaust survivor, Eva Kor founded the CANDLES Holocaust museum to spread her message of healing and forgiveness.
In 1993, Eva conceived the idea for the CANDLES Holocaust Museum and founded it in honor of her sister who died that year.
The Hope To Find A New Home
CANDLES has grown into a historical community landmark, attracting thousands of visitors from around the world.
But former CANDLES Executive Director Dorothy Chambers says the museum has outgrown its space, leaving little room for new exhibits, hosting programs, and for staff to work.
"We have so little room that we actually have to rent space next door," she says.
The museum has its eyes on a new space, in a historic building in downtown Terre Haute.
The First National Bank on Wabash Avenue has sat vacant for nearly a decade. It looks ordinary from the outside, but its history and what’s inside might surprise you.
Take a look at this beautiful neoclassical style banking hall located in downtown Terre Haute. Plans are underway to rehab the historic building and give it a brand new use. More on this story, Friday on Indiana Newsdesk! @wtiunewspic.twitter.com/HF12grhG7k
CANDLES is collaborating with Indiana Landmarks, a non-profit historic preservation agency, to stabilize and repurpose the old building.
Indiana Landmarks executive Director Tommy Kleckner says the collaboration fulfills their mission.
"We work to revitalize communities, reconnect Hoosiers to their Heritage and save meaningful places," Kleckner says.
The building maintains a deep-rooted history. The original structure was built just after 1900 by the U.S. Trust company building. A 1927 merger put the building in the hands of the Terre Haute National Bank, which then remodeled it to reflect a new style.
"The building as you see it today is a reflection, is a result of that 1927-28 remodel, wonderful, impressive neo-classical bank structure," Kleckner says. "It still retains such wonderful decorative elements, the wonderful classical features, the amazing three-story banking hall. Even in a semi-ruinous state, you walk in and you can’t help but immediately be impressed."
Years later, the Terre Haute bank moved to a new building next door and became First Financial Bank, and it seemed likely the vacant building would be demolished.
"Water damage through the roof and then through the foundation walls has led to an interior, as impressive as it is, still in a very deteriorated state," he says.
Tommy Kleckner of Indiana Landmarks is coordinating the stabalization process of the building before transferring ownership to CANDLES.
As a part of the group’s mission, Indiana Landmarks proposed the building as the perfect space for CANDLES — and together the two could create a plan to save the building and its history.
"That imminent demolition threat was alleviated and then over the past several years we have been working with candles and First Financial to come to an agreement on donation and long term use,” Kleckner says.
And that long term plan has Chambers excited for what the historic building could become.
"It’s a fantastic space. I cannot wait to begin working with designers and architects to figure out how to make it our own," she says.
Indiana Landmarks plans to hold the building and take care of some stabilization work that needs to be done. At the same time, CANDLES is working to secure funding to rehab the building.
Chambers says the museum has a broad network of supporters and foundations they will call on for support.
In the meantime, she says they are weighing ideas for how to use the space, including more exhibits, conference rooms, workspaces and a theater.
Though the full process could take years, Kleckner says this collaboration to preserve one of Terre Haute's hidden gems is truly one of a kind.
“We’re thrilled to be able to partner with such a respected organization that’s really providing a really important service, that public education," he says. "The building itself, just by its very presence helps to tell more of the story of Terre Haute and it’s past.”
CANDLES Learns From The Past While Planning For The Future
This isn’t the first time that CANDLES chose to start over. In 2003, the CANDLES museum was firebombed in an act of arson that was deemed a hate crime.
Burned to the ground, the museum lost nearly everything. But Eva once again, chose to forgive, and CANDLES rebuilt the location and reopened their doors in April, 2005.
