The Vories House

The Vories House. . , William Merrell Vories was born in this house on October 28, 1880. As part of the YMCA missionary program, he went to Omihachiman, Japan in 1905 and remained a missionary, businessman, architect, social worker and educator in Japan until his death in 1964. During Mr. Vories tenure in Omihachiman, Japan, he established the Christian Omi Brotherhood. To support his Christian missionary work, Mr. Vories became a very successful entrepreneur, establishing the Vories Architectural Company (1907) and the Omi Sales Company (1920)., Mr. Vories is credited for designing over 2,000 western style buildings in Japan, Korea and China. He also established the Omihachiman YMCA, the Omi-Brotherhood Pharmaceutical (Mentholatum) Company, the Omi Sanatorium and Hospital, initially for the treatment of tuberculosis and the Omi Christian school system. All of these entities still exist today. After World War II, Vories was instrumental in negotiations between General Mac Arthur and Emperor Hirohito and is credited with Hirohito remaining as the emperor after the occupation of U.S. Forces., Mr. Vories accomplishments are legend to the Japanese people. Numerous Japanese tourists visit this house and Leavenworth annually. In 1997 the City of Leavenworth and the City of Omihachiman became sister and brother cities, based on the common bond with William Merrell Vories.