The long awaited 1902 Central Hall opened its restored doors to the public on Dec. 18 and 19.
With an evening reception by invitation on Dec. 18 and a public ribbon cutting on Dec. 19, the restoration of the Central Christian Church was celebrated with speeches, singing and fanfare.
“While this EDC renovation project was much longer than planned, it turned out beautifully and was worth the wait,” said Glen Ray, the president of the Pilot Point Municipal Development District, which funded the project. “I think it’s a wonderful investment for the community to have an event space of this caliber. I greatly appreciate Denise Morris as executive director for her steadfastness to get this project completed with the support of the local contractors.”
Morris agreed that the process was lengthy but that the outcome was worth it.
“The project has been three years of careful renovation and seeing 1902 Central Hall come back to life is incredibly rewarding,” she said. “The building is beautiful on the inside and out, and more importantly, it once again feels like a place where the community can gather.”
The once-church turned event venue space is intended to be “a place that draws people in and supports local businesses,” Morris said.
“This venue can host weddings, community celebrations, cultural events, workshops and performances right in the heart of our historic district,” she added. “Beyond economic development it strengthens the social fabric of Pilot Point. It’s a space that helps tell our story, honors our heritage and provides new ways for residents and visitors to connect with our community.”
During the ribbon cutting, Morris spoke about the church’s history.
“For 123 years, this beautiful church was a place of worship, a place of nurturing, … of celebrating life’s most precious moments and holding the community tight through its toughest challenges,” she said.
The families who still attended the church as it closed in 2020 donated the building to the then-Pilot Point Economic Development Corporation.
Joyce Duesman, the former EDC president and member of the 1902 Central Hall board, also spoke at the ribbon cutting, along with Morris and Ray. Ray, who grew up attending church in the building, was grateful to see the piece of Pilot Point’s history retained and reclaimed.
“I’m thrilled that the remaining church families were able to preserve a unique piece of Pilot Point architecture with the financial resources of the Municipal Development District,” Ray said. “Hopefully, the structure will remain an iconic reminder of old Pilot Point.”
Morris said she was grateful for many, including the Pilot Point MDD board members, City Council, city staff, contractors and community partners who made the project possible.
“We would like to express deep gratitude to the families who donated the former Central Christian Church to Pilot Point Economic Development,” Morris said. “Their generosity ensured that this historic landmark didn’t fade into memory but instead was preserved and given new purpose.”
The building has housed not only congregations but also concerts, with the construction of the structure built for beautiful sound.
“The inside craftmanship and acoustic sound is just unbelievable,” Ray said. “I’m sure pioneers on the Texas prairie in the late 1800s could not have dreamed their church would still be standing over 120 years later.”
Those acoustics came into play when Kailey Rice Hjelmgren performed “Silent Night” in German for the crowd gathered at the ribbon cutting.
For more information about the venue, visit www.1902CentralHall. com.
