Historic hall given new life as community center
A historic dance hall in Cypress is getting new life as a community center serving Harris County Pct. 3 residents.
Located on the grounds of Cypress Top Historic Park at 26026 Hempstead Road, the county opened the building up as a community center in May. The building was previously being leased for private events such as wedding receptions, birthday parties and anniversary celebrations. It also is an early voting location during elections.
Now, a variety of classes, activities and programs are being held at the building, which was originally built in the early 1900s by Edward Juergen. Back then it was used as a German dance hall.
Jim Sigmund, a member of the Cypress Historical Society, has lived in northwest Harris County since 1979 and in Cypress since 2002. He is happy to see the community is getting additional use
out of the old building.
“I am glad the building is getting more use as a community center because the Juergen Hall can now be visited every day of the week, as well as being rented out on the weekend,” Sigmund said.
Even the historical society will be making use of the hall’s community center status. The organization will conduct a class in August teaching attendees how to research their family histories.
Regardless of the reasons people come to the hall; Sigmund said visitors become exposed to the history of the Cypress area through photos, antique decor and memorabilia displayed on its walls.
The 100-plus-year-old dance hall wasn’t always located at Cypress Top Historic Park, however. It initially sat at the corner of old Hempstead Highway and Spring-Cypress Road “about 50 yards north and east” of a train depot, Sigmund said. The hall can be seen on a postcard dated 1907.
The hall was damaged by a storm in 1915 but was rebuilt and expanded. It remained a dance hall until the late 1930s. It later served as a hardware store, feed store and peanut storage facility. It later became a courthouse.
From 1966 to 1977, Gene Zaboroski served as Harris County justice of the peace. The former dance hall was his court, Sigmund said. It also was used as a community meeting place.
“In about 1984, the building was moved approximately 200 yards northwest,” Sigmund said, before moving to its current location at Cypress Top Historic Park in 2005. The site is a cluster of buildings and businesses that recreate historical living conditions for visitors.
Since opening the historic dance hall up as a community center in May, a health and fitness class is offered at the hall from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. every Monday and Wednesday. The class began with 12 people and now has 27, said Mark Hummel, the hall’s maintenance supervisor who often helps answer phones at the community center.
He said people are gradually starting to discover the center and its programs.
A tap dance class for adults is also held from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. every Wednesday. Hummel estimates as many as nine people have joined the class since it began a few weeks ago.
Yoga classes are to be offered at the hall every Tuesday and Thursday beginning Aug. 4. Senior citizens are also invited to play cards, dominos and other games from 1 to 3:30 p.m. every Wednesday.
More classes are being scheduled, said Jane Hippen, the community center’s director.
The classes are free unless supplies are needed.
The classes also require advance registration. Call the community center at 713-274-3188 to register and to obtain a list of any materials that may be required for the classes.