Benjamin (April 14th 1916- 1983) & Queen Esther Thomas (October 5th 1917- March 10th 2007) - Brief Biography Queen Esther Hogan was married to Benjamin Thomas and together they opened a restaurant on 572/574 Grand Avenue called “Queen & Ben’s” in the 1950’s. It was very rare to see an African American owned business. In addition they were owners of the neighborhood store located on the corner of 125 Maple Street and Halladay Street. Raising 4 sons Benjamin, Bernard, Ballard (deceased) and Bryan Thomas 3 served the United States of America as decorated Air Force officers in Vietnam. The Thomas’s regularly fed the hungry and provided assistance when residents required legal information teaching them how to establish credit. In the 1950’s social services weren’t available and the Thomas’s offered assistance utilizing 125 Maple Street on the weekends to provide dental care for neighborhood children free of charge. Queen Esther Thomas became politically active in1954 and was the district committee person. In 1955m she ran in a very close race for a seat in the state assembly becoming the first African American woman to run for this office. Millionaire mogul Malcolm Forbes creator and founder of Forbes Magazine was compelled to send Queen Esther a personal telegram congratulating her on a well fought race. Queen Esther Thomas was an active member and usherette at Monumental Baptist Church for many years. The marriage union between this loving couple lasted 46 years before Benjamin passed away in 1983. Queen Esther departed Jersey City to spent her golden years in North Carolina and then eventually being laid to rest in Arizona with each one of her surviving sons by her side. Always community first, without fanfare, Benjamin and Queen Esther Thomas are being recognized for the unselfish commitment to the community and the people they sincerely loved in the Lafayette- Greenville community.

1. Benjamin (April 14th 1916- 1983) & Queen Esther Thomas
(October 5th 1917- March 10th 2007)
RIBBON CUTTING & DEDICATION
CEREMONY FOR THE
Queen Esther Hogan was married to Benjamin Thomas and
together they opened a restaurant on 572/574 Grand Avenue called “Queen & Ben’s” in the 1950’s. It was very rare
to see an African American owned business. In addition
they were owners of the neighborhood store located on
the corner of 125 Maple Street and Halladay Street. Raising
4 sons Benjamin, Bernard, Ballard (deceased) and Bryan
Thomas 3 served the United States of America as decorated
Air Force officers in Vietnam. The Thomas’s regularly fed
the hungry and provided assistance when residents required legal information teaching them how to establish
credit. In the 1950’s social services weren’t available and
the Thomas’s offered assistance utilizing 125 Maple Street
on the weekends to provide dental care for neighborhood
children free of charge. Queen Esther Thomas became politically active in1954 and was the district committee person. In 1955m she ran in a very close race for a seat in the
state assembly becoming the first African American woman
to run for this office. Millionaire mogul Malcolm Forbes
creator and founder of Forbes Magazine was compelled to
send Queen Esther a personal telegram congratulating her
on a well fought race.
Queen Esther Thomas was an active member and usherette
at Monumental Baptist Church for many years. The marriage union between this loving couple lasted 46 years before Benjamin passed away in 1983. Queen Esther departed
Jersey City to spent her golden years in North Carolina and
then eventually being laid to rest in Arizona with each one
of her surviving sons by her side. Always community first,
without fanfare, Benjamin and Queen Esther Thomas are
being recognized for the unselfish commitment to the
community and the people they sincerely loved in the Lafayette-Greenville community.
HALLADAY HOMES
Building Strong Communities
_____________________________________
March 10, 2014
9:30am to 11:00am
291-297 Halladay Street
Jersey City, NJ 07304

2. 01
291-297 Halladay Street is
Garden State Episcopal Community Development Corporation’s first home ownership project in the Morris Canal Section
of Jersey City. It involved the
new construction of 4 two family
homes for moderate income
buyers and renters. This project
is made possible through the investment of the
Jersey City
Division of Community Development with a grant from the
HOME Investment Partnership
Program in the amount of
$1,089,000 and through the acquisition of the vacant lots at
nominal cost from the Jersey
City Redevelopment Agency.
Construction financing is being
provided by TD Bank. Each of
the homes includes a
3BR/2.5BTH duplex unit for the
home owner with a bonus family
room and a 3 BR rental. Each of
the homes will be sold for
$250,000 to first time home buyers. To date, GSECDC has built
240 units of affordable housing
by redeveloping 93 scattered
sites throughout Jersey City.
Today,
We celebrate the Empowerment of People
and Neighborhoods. We come together to
applaud the efforts of the non-profit
community,
the
business
community,
private citizens, and local, state and federal
government
which
work
together
to
improve the quality of life of Jersey City
communities.
Welcome
Carol Mori, Executive Director
GSECDC
02
Blessing
Rev. Tom Murphy
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church/GSECDC
Board of Directors
03
Introduction
John Restrepo, Director
GSECDC Division of Housing &
Community Development
04
City of Jersey City
Honorable Mayor Steven M. Fulop
05
Jersey City Council, Ward F
Councilwoman Diane Coleman
07
Jersey City Redevelopment Agency
Christopher Fiore, Assistant Executive
Director.
08
TD Bank
Pat Disanto, V.P. Commercial Lending
09
Ribbon Cutting and Dedication to
Benjamin & Queen Esther Thomas
Bryon & Basil Thomas