Administration Building The building that once housed Fred Brownings Top O Hill Casino began life as a tearoom just up the winding drive off the Bankhead Highway in a section of unincorporated Tarrant County. To facilitate his many gambling activities, Browning moved the large house aside and had a 1200 square foot basement dug into the hillside. The house was then moved back into position, concealing the existence of the roomy space he had created underground for his nefarious and illegal enterprises. When Bible Baptist Seminary acquired the property in 1956, funds were limited; the erstwhile gambling den was used as it stood for offices, library, cafeteria and classrooms. By 1970, the plans had been drawn up by Designs of Grand Prairie for a new edifice more suited to the needs of a Bible school. The existing building was demolished and by the next year, the new administration building was ready for occupancy. Its 15,750 square foot main floor housed the Presidents office, business offices, bookstore and restrooms, a central sitting area and lobby. The basement was re-purposed to include a large room which can seat 150 people or accommodate tables and chairs for dining. The kitchen area and serving line and storage rooms occupy the rest of the space. Todays kitchen walls are the original casino walls and a search in 2003 unearthed another room from the casino and a tunnel. Other tunnels exist, some awaiting further searches. The cost of the new building in 1970-71 was, by todays standards, a meager $170,000! A special dedication service for the new administration building was held during the annual meeting of the World Baptist Fellowship on May 12, 1971 Written by Vickei Bryant
Posted on: Tue, 09 Sep 2014 15:36:58 +0000
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