BARNHILL CENTER MEETING ROOM COMPLETION IN SIGHT AFTER LARGE DONATION

  

With the recent donation of $1 million, there are enough funds on hand to complete the meeting room project at the Barnhill Conference Center in the historic Simon Theatre in Brenham.

The gift, from a donor who wishes to remain anonymous, brings to a total of $9.38 million.  This is made up of $6.7 million in mostly local donations, $1.65 million in state historic tax credits, and $1.03 million in federal tax credits.

Brenham Main Street Historical Preservation, Inc. (BMSHP) took the task of restoring the Simon Theatre and adding the adjacent meeting rooms for the conference center more than ten years ago.

Hal Moorman, who has led the fundraising efforts for BMSHP, said work will begin very soon on the final phase of the complex. He said roughly $725,000 is all that is left to be raised for payment of various furnishings and related items through the theatre, and soon-to-be completed conference center.

The two meetings rooms will be built in the area that was known as the Kugel property, located next to the Simon Theatre. The meeting rooms will allow for meetings and work sessions at the same time and, according to Moorman, will feature state-of-the-art technology.  Moorman said the facility will be a “tremendous economic stimulus”.

Moorman praised the community, as well as the team at RWG Construction Management, for their support and efforts in restoring “one of the most historically significant buildings in Brenham”.

Moorman has led Brenham Main Street Preservation, Inc. and fundraising efforts for work on the Simon Theatre, ever since the passing of Tom Bullock Sr. several years ago. Bullock was the organizing force of the Barnhill Center’s restoration.

Anyone wishing to donate to the project can do so by visiting http://thebarnhillcenter.com/giving.