Cherry Springs Dance Hall

Cherry Springs Dance Hall, was one of the oldest and most historic dance halls in Texas. It was located at 17662 North U.S. Highway 87, Cherry Springs, TX 78624. The Texas farming community of Cherry Spring is 16 miles (26 km) NW of Fredericksburg, Texas, in Gillespie County's portion of the Texas Hill Country.^[1] The dance hall was established along the old Pinta Trail^[2][3] in 1889 as a stop for cattle drives. It was originally run by Herman Lehmann,^[4] son of German immigrants, Apache captive and adopted son of Comanche chief Quanah Parker.

Cited by the State of Texas Music Office as "one of the most historic dance halls in the world," the venue played host to some of the greatest legends of country music. Hank Williams once played here, as did Patsy Cline, Buck Owens, Webb Pierce, Ernest Tubb, George Jones, and many others. It was here on October 9, 1955, that the Louisiana Hayride^[5] Tour played, with Elvis Presley,^[6] Johnny Cash, Wanda Jackson and Porter Wagoner on the cusp of international fame for the performers.^[7] Author and musician Geronimo Trevino III^[8] likens the talent who have played there to "The history of country music."^[9]

See also

• Enchanted Rock
• Loyal Valley, Texas
• Texas Hill Country

References

1. "Cherry Spring, Texas". Texas Escapes – Blueprints For Travel, LLC. Retrieved 9 May 2010. Texas Escapes – Blueprints For Travel, LLC.
2. Nixon, Nina L: Pinta Trail (El Camino Pinta) from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 9 May 2010. Texas State Historical Association
3. "El Camino Pinta" (PDF). City of San Antonio. Retrieved 9 May 2010.City of San Antonio
4. Lehmann, Herman; Hunter, J Marvin; Giese, Dale F (1993). Nine Years Among the Indians, 1870–1879: The Story of the Captivity and Life of a Texan Among the Indians. University of New Mexico Press. ISBN 978-0-8263-1417-8.
5. Laird, Tracey (2004). Louisiana Hayride: Radio and Roots Music along the Red River. Oxford University Press, USA. ISBN 978-0-19-516751-1.
6. "Elvis Day by Day 1955". Random House. Retrieved 9 May 2010.
7. Warner, Jay; Etheridge, Melissa (2008). Notable Moments of Women In Music. Hal Leonard. p. 71. ISBN 978-1-4234-2951-7.
8. "Cherry Springs Dance Hall". The Stars of Texas Magazine. Retrieved 9 May 2010.
9. Trevino, Geronimo (2002). Dance Halls & Last Calls: A History of Texas Country Music. Republic of Texas. ISBN 978-1-55622-927-5.

Bibliography

• Logan, Horace (1999). The Louisiana Hayride Years: Making Musical History in Country's Golden Age. St. Martin's Press. ISBN 0-312-20661-5.
• Oberst, Stanley; Torrance, Lori (2001). Elvis In Texas: The Undiscovered King 1954–1958. Republic of Texas Press. ISBN 1-55622-887-2.
• Benson, Ray; Trevino, Geronimo (2002). Dance Halls and Last Calls: A History of Texas Country Music. Republic of Texas Press. ISBN 1-55622-927-5.
• Escott, Colin; Merritt, George; MacEwen, William (2004). Hank Williams: The Biography. Back Bay Books. ISBN 978-0-316-73497-4.
• Townsend, Charles (1986). San Antonio Rose: The Life and Music of Bob Wills. University of Illinois Press. ISBN 978-0-252-01362-1.
• Folkins, Gail; Wilkinson, Andy (2007). Texas Dance Halls: A Two-Step Circuit (Voice in the American West). Texas Tech University Press; 1st edition. ISBN 978-0-89672-603-1.

External links

• "CHERRY SPRINGS DANCE HALL | The Handbook of Texas Online| Texas State Historical Association (TSHA)".
• State of Texas, Office of the Governor, Texas Music Office

30°29′00″N 99°00′33″W / 30.48333°N 99.00917°W / 30.48333; -99.00917