Chronicling the Dancehalls of Central Texas
About the images – most of these images are from the Roger Kolar collection as explained below. Others are from the McKee archives.
About the images – most of these images are from the Roger Kolar collection as explained below. Others are from the McKee archives.
Buckholts SPJST Lodge No. 15: In 1897, Central Texas Czechs organized Slovanska Podporujici Jednota Statu Texas (SPJST), a fraternal society that promoted social activities and insurance benefits for its members. SPJST Members from Cameron, Marak and Buckholts established Lodge No. 15 in October 1907. The official name of the Lodge was Svornost Jihu, which translates as "Southern Unity," though that name has been seldom used. Josep Slovacek and other members drew plans and built the first meeting hall, dedicated on this site on July 4, 1911, but destroyed by a 1915 storm. Temple Architect Josef Tudlacka designed the next building (pictured above), which thieves set on fire in March 1936 to distract citizens while they attempted to rob the bank.
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Western Swing music. “The secret was it had a good dance tempo, mmpah-mm-pah, a 2/4 rhythm. The thing that Milton said was ‘If I pattern my music and make it a good polka tempo out the songs I play, lay the polka tempo just a little bit harder, I think I’ll have a good band.’ When you boil it down, it was a good simple, polka beat.”---Leon “Pappy” Selph.