Jefferson Playhouse & Ruth Lester Memorial House

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Jefferson, TX
Jefferson Playhouse & Ruth Lester Memorial House

The Excelsior Foundation/Jessie Allen Wise Garden Club founded in 1939, purchased this historic property in 1966.
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Our historic Playhouse, built in 1875 as a Jewish synagogue by Hebrew Sinai Congregation, is currently undergoing extensive renovation as is the attached Ruth Lester Memorial House. The Ruth Lester, built as a private home in 1860, later served the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church as a convent, hospital and school, and subsequently as home to the rabbi of the Hebrew Sinai Congregation. Cu

rrent restoration will be completed prior to our 75th Historic Pilgrimage and 68th Diamond Bessie Murder Trial scheduled for April 28, 29, 30 and May 1, 2022. We believe our four historic properties which include Jefferson’s crown jewel, The Excelsior House Hotel, built in 1858 and the oldest hotel in Texas, and Jay Gould’s private rail car, The Atalanta, are worth preserving. Your personal contribution is invited and will be appreciated. Tax-deductible donations should be made payable to The Excelsior Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit organization. Bobbie Hardy, Diamond Bessie
director

09/11/2024

The 71st Diamond Bessie Murder Trial is scheduled for May 1 - 4, 2025. Tickets for the five performances will be available beginning February 1, 2025, by calling the Diamond Bessie ticket-line, 903-665-0737.

01/30/2024

Tickets for the 70th Diamond Bessie Murder Trial may only be purchased by calling 903-665-0737.

Performances begin on Thursday, May 2nd at 7:30 pm. Other performances will be Friday, May 3rd at 7:30 pm and Saturday, May 4th at 5:30 and 8:30 pm. The final performance will be Sunday, May 5th at 2:00 pm.

Advanced ticket purchases are strongly encouraged and tickets are non-refundable. Visit Jefferson-Pilgrimage.com for more information about this busy weekend!

11/19/2023

Friends of Pilgrimage and Diamond Bessie:
It isn’t too early to be making plans for the 77th Annual Pilgrimage and 70th Diamond Bessie performances!!

Our Historic Playhouse, on the corner of Henderson and Market streets, is the venue for the five performances of Diamond Bessie. Reserved seat tickets will go on sale February 1, 2024, by calling Sandra Hall on the Diamond Bessie ticket line, 903-665-0737. Performances are scheduled for Thursday, May 2, at 7:30 pm, Friday, May 3, at 7:30 pm, Saturday, May 4, at 5:30 pm AND 8:30 pm, and Sunday, May 5 at 2 pm. The $20 tickets are non-refundable.

When you are in Jefferson, be sure to get a copy of the 2024 Jeffersonian published by Historic Jefferson Foundation for all descriptive details of the Pilgrimage tour homes, the Diamond Bessie story, the Saturday morning Pilgrimage parade and the always-popular Saturday luncheon in the Excelsior Grand Ballroom and Courtyard and other activities during the always-popular weekend.

10/08/2023

Friends of Jefferson Playhouse & Ruth Lester Memorial :
For the past few days, miscellaneous posts which are totally unrelated to the Playhouse and RLM are being posted by unidentified sources . It has been virtually impossible to correct the issue - I promise I have not been posting them!!!
Bobbie Hardy

05/09/2023

03/06/2023

12/31/2021

Extensive restoration of the Playhouse and Ruth Lester Memorial has begun in earnest!! What a happy way to end 2021 and begin 2022!
Our five Diamond Bessie Murder Trial performances begin Thursday, April 28, 2022!!

10/13/2021

Our historic Playhouse, built in 1875 as a Jewish synagogue by Hebrew Sinai Congregation, is currently undergoing extensive renovation as is the attached Ruth Lester Memorial. The Ruth Lester, built as a private home in 1860, later served the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church as a convent, hospital and school, and subsequently as home to the rabbi of the Hebrew Sinai Congregation.
The Excelsior Foundation/Jessie Allen Wise Garden Club founded in 1939, purchased this historic property in 1966.
Current restoration will be completed prior to our 75th Historic Pilgrimage and 68th Diamond Bessie Murder Trial scheduled for April 28, 29, 30 and May 1, 2022.
We believe our four historic properties which include Jefferson’s crown jewel, The Excelsior House, built in 1858 and the oldest hotel in continuous operation in Texas, and Jay Gould’s private rail car, The Atalanta, are worth preserving.
Your personal contribution is invited and will be appreciated.
Tax-deductible donations should be made payable to The Excelsior Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit organization.
Bobbie Hardy, Diamond Bessie
director

Address

Corner Of Market & Henderson Streets
Jefferson, TX
75657

Website

http://www.theexcelsiorhouse.com/

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