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Ivy’s
have owned the Dance Hall for generations and also continue to run
the London Grocery and Grill across the street. An article in Texas
Monthly included the London,
Tx Dance Hall in it’s March 1995 “Classic Country Dance Halls
of Fame” edition. The proprietor, Ms Ivy, is a vibrant silver haired
beauty 83 years young, a grand lady who even to this day in 2012 sits
at the ticket booth, stately posture and attire, graciously greeting
patrons as they enter the establishment. She stays there until closing
time… after midnight… every Saturday night. |
Ivy's London
Dance Hall and the large Pecan tree |
Live Music Every
Saturday Night |
London Grocery
and Grill across the street |
She’s up early
the next morning making sure the London Grocery and Grill is ready
to serve the local clientele and also the visiting hunters with their
families. The Hall and Grille continues to be able to accommodate
& cater community or family events including weddings and company
Christmas Parties with advance notice and she’ll help you plan it.
With Junction hotels
only 15 minutes away…the Dance Hall is a great place for an event.
A group of local ranch women “cut up” at the Grill of a week day to
play bunco and have some of Ms Ivy’s homemade country desserts. After
their first morning rounds the local ranchers also meet there for
coffee or to swap stories and the hunters come in to find out the
local scoop. Conversations can get pretty lively and everybody is
country friendly.
Behind closed doors Ms Ivy is painting up a storm…..the artwork can
be viewed if you know to ask.. and some pieces can be purchased. Besides
painting an old oak tree above the urinal in the Hall for the men
who….well… story has it that they used an old Oak Tree out behind
the Hall years ago for…well…you know. And, since the old Oak tree
isn’t there anymore, she painted them one in the men’s restroom at
the Hall. There’s an old timey truck door on the stall entry. It’s
real…not painted there. She’s a wonderful artist, Ms Ivy. |
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Dance
Hall Old Oak Tree Urinal |
Her paintings
include an array of reflective country scenes. Illustrating the winding
road of life, she blends a hillside of fresh vibrant wildflowers along
an old country dirt road twisting it’s way between wistful ancient
Oak trees. London
was the CENTER where for miles and counties all around friends and
neighbors congregated at the end of the week to visit and have lots
of fun, joke around, laugh, dance. Generations of Country Fun.
Contribution by Kathern Hogan
"They shoe horses, don't
they?" December
21, 2012 Guest Column |
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