Kerr Community Center

{{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2020}} {{Infobox NRHP | name = Kerr Community Center | image = Kerr community center 2008.jpg | caption = Kerr Community Center 2008 | location = 1308 Walnut St.,<br />Bastrop, Texas | coordinates = {{coord|30|6|31|N|97|19|2|W|display=inline,title}} | locmapin = Texas#USA | map_label = Kerr Community Center | locmap_relief = yes | built = {{Start date|1914}} | added = December 22, 1978 | area = less than one acre | mpsub = [https://atlas.thc.state.tx.us/AdvancedSearch/MPS?mpsid=38 Bastrop Historic and Architectural MRA] | refnum = 78003339<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref> }} The '''Kerr Community Center''', originally called '''Kerr Hall''', is a community center located in Bastrop, Texas, United States. The hall was a gathering spot for the African-American community of Bastrop during the time of racial segregation in the United States. The structure was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on December 22, 1978.<ref name="mra">{{cite web|url={{NRHP url|id=64000828}}|title = Bastrop Historic and Architectural MRA|author1=Marie Deacon Landon|author2=Stan Klein|author3=Joe R. Williams|accessdate = November 17, 2015|format = PDF|date=c. 1977|publisher=National Park Service}}</ref>

Kerr Community Center is a two-story wood-frame structure built in 1914 by Beverly and Lula Kerr on a lot directly behind their own home. The center hosted social events and artistic performances by black artists such as master blues pianist Roosevelt Williams, known to his fans as "Grey Ghost." During World War II, the structure served as a USO post for the black soldiers assigned to Camp Swift.

Beverly Kerr died in 1941 and Lula Kerr died in 1944. In 1946, some local citizens formed the Kerr Center Association and purchased the building from the Kerr estate. The center had an official dedication in 1952. The building received major renovations that were completed in 2007 including a small park and playground.

==See also== {{Portal|National Register of Historic Places|Texas}} *National Register of Historic Places listings in Bastrop County, Texas

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category|Kerr Community Center}} *[http://atlas.thc.state.tx.us/viewform.asp?atlas_num=2078003339&site_name=Kerr+Community+Center&class=2001 Texas Historic Sites Atlas] *"Holiday Homes Tour". ''The Bastrop Advertiser'', December 1, 2007. pp 14A.

Category:African-American history of Texas Category:National Register of Historic Places in Bastrop County, Texas Category:Clubhouses on the National Register of Historic Places in Texas Category:Community centers in Texas Category:United Service Organizations buildings Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1914 Category:1914 establishments in Texas