[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 124 (Tuesday, July 24, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1057]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING BEN HARDEMAN OF BRYAN TEXAS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BILL FLORES

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 24, 2018

  Mr. FLORES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Ben Hardeman, a 
resident of Bryan, Texas, and the 2018 recipient of the Outstanding 
Individual Contribution award from the League of Historic American 
Theatres, a national organization.
  In 2010, Ben was chairman of the Downtown Bryan Association and heard 
that the abandoned Queen Theatre was put up for sale. The structure was 
built in 1885, and first served as a hotel and boarding house. By 1913, 
silent films were being shown and by 1939 the building was completely 
redone and included ``chilled air'', something of a novelty in that 
era. The Queen continued to thrive until the late 1970s when the 
building was shuttered. By the time the Association purchased the 
building, it had been abandoned for 40 years. The theatre had a hole in 
the roof, pigeons in the rafters, and rotting wood.
  Ben brought the idea of the purchasing and restoring the Queen to the 
Downtown Bryan Association's Board of Trustees. They approved the 
purchase and began raising money for a down payment. Just shy of 
reaching the required amount, Ben paid the rest of the money 
personally.
  Ben spearheaded the restoration of the building, aiming to make it a 
truly community effort. The Association began collecting donations and 
within a few weeks, they raised $30,000 in pledges. Work quickly began 
on gutting the theatre with Ben and several other Bryan residents 
assisting with the demolition and clean-up.
  By 2011, the theatre's Art Deco facade was restored with Ben often 
seen doing much of the physical labor. Between 2013 and the Queen's re-
opening on May 4, 2018, Ben and the Association made plans to restore 
the theatre's interior and began fund raising efforts for this purpose.
  Ben spearheaded much of the effort, obtaining labor and material 
donations, and even designing the handrails inside the building.
  Since its re-opening, the Queen now serves as a single-screen movie 
theatre, performance venue, and, it also houses the Downtown Bryan 
Association and visitor's center.
  Thanks to Ben Hardeman's vision, the work of the Downtown Bryan 
Association and many volunteers who donated time, money, and resources, 
the Queen Theatre is once again a place for the community to gather and 
enjoy.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate Ben Hardeman on receiving 
the Outstanding Individual Contribution award and recognize all the 
work done to restore the historic Queen Theatre in Bryan, Texas.
  I have requested that a United States. flag be flown over the United 
States Capitol to honor Be Hardeman and the Queen Theatre.
  As I close today, I urge all Americans to continue praying for our 
country during these difficult times, for our military men and women 
who protect us from external threats, and for our first responders who 
protect us here at home.

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