Bellville Turn Verein – October 29th
Address: 988 East Main St. (Hwy 529)
Corner of N Amthor Belleville, TX 77418
Bellville Turn Verein
Bellville Texas has a Texas treasure in the TurnVerein Pavilion Gut Heil (Good Health). Our early German ancestors formed a society (Verein) that encouraged gymnastics, (Turn), and ordered a social hall that would encourage physical fitness, dances , meetings and celebrations. This innovative 12 sided Social Hall with elaborate and elegant wooden roof framing was designed and built in 1897 by Joachim Hintz . His building caught the imagination of all who came to political speeches and social events here. Transportation in early Texas was dominated by train travel so many people returned home influenced by this new and exciting structure. Later Hintz was asked to build 2 more Halls in Austin County , Peters-Hacienda Schuetzenverein (Shooting Club) and Cat Spring Landwirth Schaftlide Verein , Agricultural Society. But Hintz’s Bellville TurnVerein is a historic and architectural gem that is significant because it was the first and influenced the design of many later buildings all over Texas. This building has witnessed the events of our lives for 120 years in Bellville and generations of our community have celebrated and gathered in this treasured historic place.