Help Tell the Story of the Dickman Hall Ballroom

The Smithsonian Museum on Main Street (MoMS) planning committee is asking Kinney County Post readers for help in bringing the history of Dickman Hall’s upstairs ballroom back to life. A Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, and listed in the National Register of Historic Places, Dickman Hall is a true gem for the community and volunteers are currently working to revitalize the historic building at Fort Clark Springs. With enough luck, fundraising and elbow grease, the MoMS committee hopes to feature the ballroom as the main site for the Smithsonian traveling exhibit arriving in Kinney County November 21, 2026 through January 3, 2027.

Very few photographs of the upstairs ballroom exist today, and much of its story lives only in the memories of those who danced, celebrated, or gathered there. The building—recognized as a contributing structure to the Fort Clark Historic District—once served as the officers’ club for the 5th Cavalry Regiment, 112th Cavalry Regiment, 9th Cavalry Regiment, and the 2nd Cavalry Division. According to submissions and photos on the Historical Marker Database (https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=65075)  by William F. Haenn, Dickman Hall was well-appointed for its time and originally decorated in the Art Deco style, “The Club” became the pride of the officer corps and the center of social life on post. Its airy second-floor ballroom, with its hardwood dance floor, hosted countless parties and events. Over the decades, Dickman Hall went on to serve as a guest ranch headquarters and later as a restaurant and lounge for the Fort Clark Springs Association—collecting generations of memories along the way. 

In recent years, while the bar on the ground floor has continued to be a lively place for friends to gather, the rest of the building has been largely unused. The beautiful space, with its rich history and storied walls, begs for new memories to be made on the dancefloor, and its dignity restored.  To help preserve and share this history, the committee is seeking stories, descriptions, photographs, or personal recollections of the ballroom and what it meant to the community at any point since it was built in 1939.  If you have memories or photos to contribute, please email annabell@kinneycountypost.com. Together, we can help ensure this special piece of Fort Clark history is remembered and celebrated.

Photos are recent photos of the upstairs ballroom.

Smithsonian Museum on Main Street is coming to Kinney County November 21, 2026 - January 3, 2027
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