We were driving back home from Dallas and found ourselves in Calvert, Texas. I remembered there was a pavilion in the town. Searching my Google Map I found Virginia Park Pavilion. Located at the corner of E. Mitchell Street and Pin Oak Street in Calvert, we encountered a beautiful park with the pavilion in the center.
We have missed dancing with COVID-19 closing dance halls and requiring social distancing. This pavilion was perfect to rekindle our dance passion. A nice little solitary waltz around the floor brought us to dancehall happy.
The park was very peaceful and well maintained. It’s smack dab in the middle of the historic district. Beautiful homes were all around. It looked, to us, like a perfect place to hold a dance, COVID-19 or not. We imagined a band in one of the little gazebos, dancers in the big pavilion, and people milling around between the two – keeping social distance and enjoying music.
Here’s the background on the pavilion. The pavilion was built around 1868 in Calvert, Texas. It originated as a donation for park space from the Houston and Texas Central Railroad. The large red-roofed pavilion and the 2 smaller gazebos were built in 1895.
In 1937, the large pavilion was named in honor of an admired landscaper, Mrs. Virginia Field.
According to the historical marker on the pavilion, it was renamed in 2000 to honor a seventh-generation citizen of Calvert. The park retains the name Virginia Field.
The wooden floor was painted a pale blue.
The pavilion had a nice high ceiling.
There are two rows of wood benches surrounding the dance area.
An unused (probably due to COVID restrictions) fountain from the Civic League, dated 1912, was just outside the pavilion.
It was a nice surprise, finding a beautiful, peaceful area to dance during our business trip. We are planning to return again, with or without a band playing here.
On the way home, we saw a rainbow. Making a wish to see you on the dance floor soon!
Dancing Across Texas 