LCRA, PEC award $19,500 grant to Twin Sisters Dance Hall for window restoration

 

Repairs to late-1800s structure will preserve building’s historic character and improve safety, energy efficiency

June 12, 2026

Key Takeaways

  • LCRA and PEC award a $19,500 grant to Twin Sisters Dance Hall for restoration of the building’s deteriorating windows.
  • The project will improve safety, energy efficiency and usability while preserving the hall’s historic culture.
  • The grant is one of 41 being awarded through LCRA’s Community Grants program through June. LCRA will accept applications in July for the next round of grants.

LCRA and PEC representatives present a $19,500 grant to the Twin Sisters Dance Hall for restoration of the hall’s windows. The grant is part of LCRA’s Community Grants program. Pictured, from left to right, are: Paul Struck, president; Jo Nell Haas, local historian and dance hall publicist; Carol Freeman and Margaret D. “Meg” Voelter, LCRA Board members; Beth Koennecke, PEC external relations representative; and Susan Patten, LCRA Regional Affairs representative.

BLANCO, Texas – The Twin Sisters Dance Hall soon will restore windows that were originally installed in the popular meeting site in the 1870s, preserving a defining feature of one of the Blanco area’s historic community gathering spaces, thanks to a $19,500 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority and Pedernales Electric Cooperative.

The LCRA Community Grant, along with $5,500 in matching funds from the dance hall, will support restoration work on the original wood windows, including repairing wood sashes, glazing and hardware. The project will help preserve the hall’s historic character while improving safety, comfort and long-term usability for public events.

“The windows are an important part of the hall’s identity, but they have been in need of restoration for many years,” said Paul Struck, president of Twin Sisters Dance Hall. “While some of the windows were replaced about 15 years ago, many of the originals date back to the 1870s. Today, some panes are loose or falling out, and the deterioration has begun to affect both the safety and appearance of the building. We have long recognized the need for these repairs, but the cost of properly restoring the historic windows was beyond budget. We are incredibly grateful for this grant, which will allow us to preserve the hall’s historic charm while making it more functional, comfortable and welcoming for the community.”

Twin Sisters Dance Hall, which has been in operation since the 1880s, is a longstanding cultural landmark in the Texas Hill Country and has long served as a gathering place where neighbors come together to dance, listen to music, celebrate milestones and maintain traditions passed down through generations. The hall reflects the region’s German “verein” culture, where music, storytelling and social customs remain central to community life.

“The dance hall has always been more than a building,” Struck said. “It is a place where people come together across generations. Whether it’s a dance, a wedding, a fundraiser or a community meeting, this space helps keep our traditions and relationships strong.”

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.

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

Contact Info

Clara Tuma
512-578-3292
After hours: 512-944-6719
[email protected]

About LCRA

The Lower Colorado River Authority serves communities across Texas by managing the lower Colorado River, generating and transmitting wholesale electric power, providing clean water supplies, operating telecommunications infrastructure, and owning parks for outdoor recreation. LCRA delivers power, water and infrastructure that support the region’s growth and quality of life. 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. Created by the Texas Legislature in 1934, LCRA receives no state appropriations.

About PEC

Founded in 1938 by then-Congressman Lyndon B. Johnson, Pedernales Electric Cooperative Inc. is the nation’s largest member-owned distribution electric cooperative serving more than 430,000 meters across the Texas Hill Country. An industry-recognized leader providing outstanding member service and reliable electricity, PEC conducts its business via a transparent and democratic process and encourages member participation.