Cherry Springs Dance Hall

{{Short description|Dance halls in Texas, United States}}

Cherry Springs (Spring's) 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 Spring, TX 78624. The Texas farming community of Cherry Spring is {{convert|16|mi}} NW of Fredericksburg, Texas, in Gillespie County's portion of the Texas Hill Country.{{cite web | title=Cherry Spring, Texas | publisher=Texas Escapes – Blueprints For Travel, LLC. | url=http://www.texasescapes.com/TexasHillCountryTowns/Cherry-Spring-Texas.htm| accessdate=9 May 2010}} Texas Escapes – Blueprints For Travel, LLC. The dance hall was established along the old Pinta Trail{{Handbook of Texas | name=Pinta Trail (El Camino Pinta)| id=ayp02| author=Nixon, Nina L | retrieved=9 May 2010}} Texas State Historical Association{{cite web | title=El Camino Pinta |publisher=City of San Antonio | url=http://www.sanantonio.gov/planning/neighborhoods/north%20central/Appendix%20J.PDF | accessdate=9 May 2010}}City of San Antonio in 1889 as a stop for cattle drives. It was originally run by Herman Lehmann,{{cite book | last1 = Lehmann | first1 =Herman | last2=Hunter | first2=J Marvin | last3=Giese | first3=Dale F | title =Nine Years Among the Indians, 1870–1879: The Story of the Captivity and Life of a Texan Among the Indians | url = https://archive.org/details/nineyearsamongin00herm | url-access = registration | publisher =University of New Mexico Press | year =1993 | isbn = 978-0-8263-1417-8}} 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{{cite book | last =Laird | first =Tracey | title =Louisiana Hayride: Radio and Roots Music along the Red River | publisher =Oxford University Press, USA | year =2004 | isbn = 978-0-19-516751-1}} Tour played, with Elvis Presley,{{Cite web | title=Elvis Day by Day 1955 | publisher=Random House | url=http://www.randomhouse.com/rhpg/promos/elvisdaybyday/1955.html | accessdate=9 May 2010}} Johnny Cash, Wanda Jackson and Porter Wagoner on the cusp of international fame for the performers.{{cite book | last1 =Warner | first1 =Jay | last2 =Etheridge | first2 =Melissa | title =Notable Moments of Women In Music | publisher =Hal Leonard | year =2008 | page =[https://archive.org/details/notablemomentsof0000warn/page/71 71] | isbn =978-1-4234-2951-7 | url =https://archive.org/details/notablemomentsof0000warn/page/71 }} Author and musician Geronimo Trevino III {{Cite web | title=Cherry Springs Dance Hall | publisher=The Stars of Texas Magazine | url=http://www.thestarsoftexas.com/archives/jan_06/feature2.html | accessdate=9 May 2010}} likens the talent who have played there to "The history of country music."{{cite book | last =Trevino | first =Geronimo | title =Dance Halls & Last Calls: A History of Texas Country Music | publisher =Republic of Texas | year =2002 | isbn = 978-1-55622-927-5}}