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History in
a Pecan Shell
Cat Spring dates from 1834 and like Frelsburg,
was settled by Germans from Westphalia
and Oldenburg.
The name comes from an encounter the son of the town's founder had
with a large wild cat near a spring.
The town was granted a post office in 1878.
The population has slowly decreased from its robust start of 350
people in 1836. Currently there are only about 75 people, the store
at the crossroads one mile north, the post office and tractor graveyard.
The large building just west of the Crossroads is one of the few
remaining German-constructed Austin County Dancehalls. It is frequently
used for seasonal antique shows.
Another of these buildings sits just East of the railroad tracks
off 159 in Bellville.
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Twelve-sided
Building
One of the few remaining German-constructed dance
halls in the area
Photo courtesy Gerald
Massey, July 2011 |
Cat Spring,
Texas Forum
Subject: Dance
Hall of Austin County
Hello, I'm sure readers have already mentioned that the Cat Spring
and Bellville Turnvereins or dance halls are twelve sided, not
octagonal. I think there are six such dance halls in Austin County,
either octagonal or twelve sided, that are still in use. Two in the
Bellville area,
one in Cat Spring, one in Sealy,
one in Peters and one in Wallis. Information taken from Dance Halls
of Austin County, Copyright 1993. Published by the Austin County Historical
Commission in Bellville, TX. Enjoy your web site. - Sincerely, Marilyn
Stellberg, September 20, 2005 |
The rolling country
near Cat Spring
Photo courtesy Gerald
Massey, July 2011 |
On the Missouri-Kansas-Texas
Railroad
Photo
courtesy Gerald
Massey, July 2011 |
Austin
County 1907 postal map showing Cat Spring on the Missouri-Kansas-Texas
Railroad just west of the San Bernard River
From Texas state map #2090
Courtesy
Texas General Land Office |
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact
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