The historic former JCPenney building in downtown Rockwood has officially changed hands, raising questions about the future of a massive collection of local history housed inside.

According to property records recently obtained from the Roane County Property Assessor’s Office, the building located at 214 West Rockwood Street was sold to Grace Worship Center Incorporated/Cross Talk International, a ministry based out of Colleyville, Texas.

The transaction, which was initially brought to light via an anonymous tip, was finalized and confirmed in August 2024. However, the change of ownership was recently solidified in the county’s 2026 reappraisal documents. The Texas-based organization purchased the property for just over $89,000.

The building was bought in 2014 by local residents John and Peggy Evans for $20,000.

The Evanses originally purchased the historic downtown staple with grand plans to transform it into a community museum and event center. Over the last decade, they partnered with Bill Anderson Jr. to utilize the space. Anderson leveraged his Nashville connections to bring a variety of concerts, gospel monthly singings, and community gatherings to the venue. While the property was still technically listed as an event center at the time of the sale, it has not been rented out to the general public in years.

Beyond its use as a music venue, the building became a community vault, housing hundreds of historical artifacts and pieces of memorabilia donated by local citizens. While these items were frequently displayed during special events, their fate is now entirely up in the air.

The Big Question: Are the artifacts inside gone forever?

As of right now, it remains unclear. Because the building is now officially under the ownership of Grace Worship Center Incorporated/Cross Talk International, decisions regarding the archives will likely have to be coordinated between the new owners, the Evans family, and the original community donors who wish to reclaim their pieces of Rockwood’s history.