CITY ACCEPTS GIFT OF BARNHILL CENTER
After agreeing to the gift of the Barnhill Center during an Executive Session almost 2 weeks ago, the Brenham City Council finally released a press release about it. Although many more proceeds were used in totally remodeling the theater, the ballroom, and the newly constructed Morriss Hall, the city has agreed , with HOT funding reserves, to contribute approximately $480,000 to finish payment of the loan from Brenham National Bank. In 2003, the group known as the Brenham Main Street Historical Preservation, Inc. purchased the Simon Theater and began plans for the space. Through many fundraisers, they remodeled the theatre and purchased the adjacent Kugel property to build the Morriss Hall. The Visit Brenham Destination Marketing Organization, financed by the same HOT funds, will continue to operate and manage the facility and oversee the transition of The Barnhill Center to city-owned property.
City of Brenham Press Release:
The Barnhill Center at Historic Simon Theatre Gifted to the City of Brenham
In 1925, the James Simon family of Brenham commissioned noted Houston architect Alfred C. Finn to design the Simon Theatre, providing the community with a new entertainment and retail venue. Following years as a vaudeville theatre, the Simon then became a movie house, then offices for the Chamber of Commerce, an insurance agency, and finally the site of a Chinese restaurant (many remember the House of Chen). In 2003, the dilapidated theatre was purchased by Brenham Main Street Historical Preservation, Inc. (BMSHP), a non-profit entity originally organized to preserve the architectural heritage of Downtown Brenham.
City Council recently voted to accept a gift of the restored theatre, along with an additional, freshly constructed ballroom and meeting space. BMSHP Board President Hal Moorman stated, “I am so glad the city has made the decision to accept our non-profit’s gift of the Barnhill Center. This is much more than a performance venue. It is an economic engine available for our community.” He continued, “I want to thank all the folks that worked on our Board and committees and all the people who gave generously to the campaign. Two names stand out among all of them: John Barnhill, and Tom Bullock, Senior. Their leadership helped us get where we are today.”
Soon after purchasing the historic property, BMSHP hired a theatre consultant to lead community meetings to determine the best use for the theatre. A downtown conference center was proposed to not only preserve the historic building but also contribute to the economic and cultural vitality of the community. The plan was for the non-profit to raise funds for the project and eventually gift it to the City to own, operate, and manage.
In 2009 enough funds had been raised to begin the first major phase of the project. The first-floor space facing Main Street was designed and constructed as home of the Brenham and Washington County Visitor Center, with a creatively designed complete terrazzo floor map of Washington County that can be seen upon entering. Still recognized as a creative gem, more than 12 years later, the Visitor Center received the Best Visitor Center Award in a mid-sized community by Texas Travel Awards.
It was after years of fundraising, renovations, and restoration, and with great vision and insight from BMSHP, the non-profit purchased the Kugel property next door to the theatre, with plans to further develop the property adding space for additional restrooms and space for meeting rooms needed for conferences and events.
Fundraising, construction, and renovation continued to make significant progress with the opening of the Bullock Ballroom in 2015. That year, the City of Brenham agreed to operate and manage the facility with Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) funds committed to the operations, marketing, and promotion of the venue (HOT is a 7% charge collected by lodging properties for each overnight stay and is paid by visitors to our community). In 2016, the City’s operation and management of the conference center by City staff began as well as the opening of the restored 321-seat theater, now known as Hasskarl Auditorium. The newest addition to the facility, completed in the Spring of 2020, is Morriss Hall which features state-of-the-art projection and sound equipment in modern conference spaces.
The nearly 20-year public-private partnership between the City and BMSHP has evolved from the vision of a group of leaders dedicated to the preservation of a historic property, through decades of fundraising, planning, and phased construction, to a thriving anchor of our community in Downtown Brenham.
The decades-long fundraising efforts of BMSHP were highlighted by significant contributions through the years including donations by Jane and John Barnhill, the Hasskarl family, HEB, and honorary donations in the name of Tom Bullock, Sr, the Lowe family, and the Schulte family. The non-profit raised more than $9 million to accomplish the project, which included both federal and state historic tax credits.
The addition of Morriss Hall, important to the success of the facility as a conference center, added a new challenge of fundraising for completion, and the City of Brenham, with HOT funding reserves, is contributing approximately $480,000 to finish payment of the BMSHP loan from Brenham National Bank.
Visit Brenham Destination Marketing Organization (DMO), financed by the same HOT funds, will continue to operate and manage the facility and oversee the transition of The Barnhill Center to city-owned property.
Mayor Tate said, “The City proudly recognizes and applauds the two-decade-long restoration efforts by Brenham Main Street Historical Preservation, Inc. to preserve this historic downtown landmark. Our community has shown enormous support for the Barnhill Center, and we look forward to continuing the dedicated efforts of preservation and growth.”