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Eagle Lake Remembers
Why the lights were so bright that if you weren’t headed there, you’d turn right around and drive back to find the excitement. The sun had set and the lights on the old dance hall roof were gleaming. Who could pass it by? The musicians were unloading their instruments. The cold drinks were covered in frosty ice. The maple dance floor glistened, and the walls opened out to allow the summer breeze in. It was a heavenly night in Eagle Lake.
While old-fashioned dance halls were abundant in our area in the 1940s, Austin Hall was a standout. Eagle Lake had its own dance hall. Neighbors came from nearby towns. Cars all over Eagle Lake moved towards East Main. If you didn’t have a car, you hitched a ride or walked. Friends greeted friends. If you didn’t have a date, you could look for one. It was all in good fun. Parents never worried. Many were there having fun, too.
The sleepy town awakened to the music. Not even the train whistle could compete with the trumpet high note of Gus Lindeman of the famous Czech Baca’s Band from Fayetteville. Austin Hall was the small town scene of the big band and dance era.
Whether dancing to the music of the Lee Prause Band from Schulenburg or the Jodie Braden Orchestra from Columbus, the notes quickened the steps of the dancers who stopped only long enough for a cold drink and a quick hello. Even a hometown band called the Melody Makers had a good following at Austin Hall. They, too, played the popular dance tunes of the day with young local musicians such as popular Ralph Mc-Cormick on the trombone.
Mrs. Carl Austin recalled a time when two carloads of a Shriner Band group came through town, stopping when they saw the lights. They took out their instruments from the car, entered the Hall, and played the rest of the night. No one could resist Austin Hall. The flexible walls allowed air in during the summer, and the double layered maple floor could also double as a roller skating rink which became very popular.
Some could hear the music from the steps of their nearby homes. When Texas Square Dancing became popular in the 1940s, Austin Hall drew a crowd. Plaid shirts and wide skirts filled the floor to the commands of the “Caller.” Eagle Lake’s Tommy Pilkington often called the dances and helped teach the steps. No one wanted to miss “Square Dance nights.” Even children wanted to learn. Dance teacher Mary Thomas taught the youngsters how to Square Dance. They not only performed in the Hall, but also at the Thomas and Clipson Rodeos.
After its long and colorful history, Mr. Sam Austin decided to close the old Hall in 1951. It had for years brought delight and entertainment to Eagle Lake’s Main Street. It served both young and old and was an icon in Eagle Lake history. It was a gathering place for friends for almost a quarter of a century. Not even today’s shiny Buc-ee’s at the former Hall location can compare to the bright lights and bright faces dancing and skating at Eagle Lake’s famous Austin Hall.
