LCRA, Bluebonnet Electric Co-op award $25,000 grant for renovations to Carmine Hall

Cedar Creek Schuetzen Verein will upgrade historic community center to improve safety, expand local event opportunities

Nov. 19, 2025

CARMINE, Texas – Cedar Creek Schuetzen Verein soon will renovate the popular meeting spot Carmine Hall, thanks to a $25,000 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority and Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative.

The community grant, along with more than $225,000 in matching funds from the organization, will support a complete rebuild of the lower section of the hall, including updates to the kitchen, seating, storage, restrooms, flooring and HVAC system, ensuring Carmine Hall continues to serve as the primary gathering place for local families and organizations.

“Carmine Hall has been the heart of our community for generations, hosting everything from the fire department’s fundraisers to school programs, church events, weddings and family reunions,” said Cherrie Wines, president of Cedar Creek Schuetzen Verein. “Unfortunately, years of wear and limited resources have taken a toll on the building. These upgrades are much needed and will make the hall safer, more comfortable and easier for everyone to enjoy. It’s already a gathering place for so many, and we believe even more people will take advantage of the hall once the work is finished.”

As work begins to upgrade the hall, Wines said that preserving the building’s historic integrity remains a top priority.

“Preserving the historic character of Carmine Hall is very important to us,” Wines said. “Even with these much-needed renovations, we’re committed to keeping the hall as authentic as possible. The exterior walls will be rebuilt with the original board-and-batten design, and many interior features will be reused as facades.”

Wines said the group plans to upgrade the top section of the hall as well in the future.

“We wouldn’t have been able to start this work without the grant,” she said. “Carmine Hall has long struggled to secure funding for needed repairs. This support allows us to move forward with the lower hall renovations while continuing to plan updates for the upstairs. Without it, we would have had to rely solely on community fundraising, like our bingo events, which would have delayed these improvements significantly.”

This is one of 41 grants awarded recently through LCRA Community Grants. These grants are awarded twice a year as part of LCRA’s effort to give back to communities in its wholesale electric, water and transmission service areas. Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative is one of LCRA’s wholesale electric customers and is a partner in the Community Grants program.

Applications for the next round of grants will be accepted in January. More information is available at lcra.org/cdpp.

About LCRA

The Lower Colorado River Authority serves customers and communities throughout Texas by managing the lower Colorado River; generating and transmitting electric power; providing a clean, reliable water supply; and offering outdoor adventures at more than 40 parks along the Colorado River from the Texas Hill Country to the Gulf Coast. LCRA and its employees are committed to fulfilling our mission to enhance the quality of life of the Texans we serve through water stewardship, energy and community service. LCRA was created by the Texas Legislature in 1934 and receives no state appropriations.

About Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative

Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative is one of the largest electric cooperatives in Texas and has been serving its members since 1939. Bluebonnet serves more than 143,000 meters and owns and maintains 12,700 miles of power lines, located across more than 3,800 square miles within 14 Central Texas counties. Bluebonnet’s service area stretches from Travis County to Washington County, and from Milam County to Gonzales County. For more information about Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative, go to bluebonnet.coop and follow the co-op on Facebook and X/Twitter.

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