Cat Spring, Texas, Austin County. (original) (raw)

Cat Spring Texas post office

History in a Pecan ShellCat 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.

Cat Spring TX Octagonal Dance Hall

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

Cat Spring TX Dance Hall

Cat Spring TX Landscape

The rolling country near Cat Spring
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, July 2011

Cat Spring TX cross road store

Cat Spring TX stores

Cat Spring TX store

Cat Spring TX closed store

Cat Spring TX sign and railroad track

On the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad
Photo courtesy Gerald Massey, July 2011

Cat Spring TX building with mural

TX Austin County 1907 Postal Map

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

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