BELLVILLE TURNVEREIN PROJECT RECEIVES LCRA GRANT

  

An Austin County landmark will soon be getting a new electrical system, thanks in part to a $22,000 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority.

The grant, along with $28,000 in matching funds, will allow Bellville’s Turnverein Pavilion Restoration Project to upgrade the electrical system at the pavilion, Texas’ first round dance hall.

The restoration group intends to modernize the pavilion, while still keeping the hall’s historic charm.

Built in 1897 by German immigrants, the Turnverein Pavilion is owned by the City of Bellville and has been a center of activity in town for more than 120 years.

The building’s present condition and lack of air conditioning limits its use to cooler months when the hall uses gas heaters.  The grant will help bring the current electrical system up to code and reduce fire hazards in the existing wiring.

The new electrical system will also accommodate the professional sound systems of bands and DJs, making it easier to host events there.

In addition, it will allow for future improvements, including a modern HVAC system, more efficient lighting and appliances. Since the hall is a Texas historical marker, all work will be done under the approval of the Texas Historical Commission.

The community grant is one of a number of grants recently awarded through LCRA’s Community Development Partnership Program.  The program is part of an effort by the LCRA to give back to the communities it serves. The City of Bellville is one of LCRA’s wholesale electric customers, and a partner in the grant program.

Applications for the next round of grants will be accepted through next January. To learn more, visit www.lcra.org/cdpp.