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#7: Rinky Dink Domino Hall
#7: Rinky Dink Domino Hall
One of the favorite pastimes of people in the past was playing dominoes. The most common being regular dominoes, 42, and shoot the moon. Most rural towns had a domino hall when citizens could go play: Dripping Springs was no different. In the late 30's, Dripping Springs residents had been playing dominos under an oak tree on Mercer. However, as a result of the residents growing tired of the interruptions caused by inclement weather, they came up with a plan. In 1939, John Butler bought $50 worth of materials, and had Ed Felps and A.B. Cauthen construct the small building pictured to the right that had room for two domino tables inside.
There are two stories concerning how Butler got his $50 back. One was that each player would kick in a quarter each game until the amount was collected. The other was a club was formed whereby the players would pay a dollar a month to play. Once Butler had collected back his original investment, games at the domino hall returned to being free.
The hall was located between the Miller Texaco and Rock Café on Mercer street until the mid-60's. The name was no doubt derived from the smallish nature of the building. There once was a sign over the door credited to Ollie Sorrell, made of ice cream sticks, declaring it to be the Rinky Dink Domino Hall. Sadly, today games of dominos are seldom played at the hall anymore.
#8: Patterson Mercantile Store
#8: Patterson Mercantile Store
In 1903, J. L. Patterson, a wealthy man from Hutto, Texas, moved to Dripping Springs. He bought up available property in town and acreage outside of the town. In 1906, he built a 1.5 story limestone building to be a mercantile store in order to compete with the A.L. Davis store across the street. Patterson eventually convinced his son and family to move to Dripping Springs and help run the store. When the son decided to return to Hutto after six years, Patterson sold the store. It changed hands several times but always remained a mercantile-type store. In 1938, the building would burn. The burned out limestone shell would be left and only one story would be rebuilt. In 1940, the store changed course: it became a feed store for 16 years, then various businesses in the decades that followed, such as an antique store, the DS playhouse, a dance studio, real estate offices, etc.
#9: F.W. Miller Rock Café
#9: F.W. Miller Rock Café
In 1940, Fritz W. Miller, a Texaco product representative, had just lost his dealership in Dripping Springs when the store owner had decided to change providers. Desiring to stay in Dripping Springs, Miller purchased a couple of lots on Mercer street and built a Texaco station and café. The little café was first known as the Rock Café, and Naoma Glosson was its first manager. After she quit in 1941, Jimmy Glosson took over and renamed it Bonnie's Café in honor of his daughter. The café stayed in business until 1956. After a short time under new management, the building's life of being a café ended. Mrs. Zadie Lumpkin bought the building in 1965 and used it for her office and residence until her death in 1992. Since then it has been used for a variety of businesses, including once having a role in a movie.
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