Double C’s celebrate 47 years of square dancing in Cove
By DAVID J. HARDIN
There were plenty of smiles at the Copperas Cove Public Library last Friday night as members of the Double C’s Square Dance Club came together to mark its 47th anniversary.
The group has been in existence since 1970 thanks to Ray and Catherine Stewart who started the group after developing a love for square dancing while stationed in Japan in the 1960s.
When Ray and Catherine returned to the United States in December of 1970, they formed the Double C’s Square Dance Club, which is the oldest club of its kind in Coryell County.
For the 47th anniversary dance, the Double C’s had square dance caller Brad Caldwell, who said this is the fourth time that he has had a chance to call for the group. He has been calling other groups throughout Texas for 30 years.
Marjorie Mitchell is the President of the Double C’s Square Dance Club, and has been with the club for eight years
“Both Ray and Catherine have passed on, but we continue to keep the club going, because we love to dance,” Mitchell said. “It is hard keep members, especially young ones because the interest is just not there, and we are considered old fashioned.
“We hold events to raise money for scholarships and we do lot of community outreach. The library is a great location for dances because it is more centrally located for most people to get to.”
Aiken Wesche is 13 years old and goes to S.C. Lee Junior High School and enjoys dancing with the Double C’s because his whole family dances as well.
Members took time to celebrate the founding of the club, but also took several minutes on Friday evening to remember one their members, Jim Shoemaker, who passed away last week.
Shoemaker danced with the Double C’s since 2004, but was also a member of other square dancing clubs like the Killeen Kickers and the Shirts and Skirts club of Georgetown.
Marjorie Mitchell gave a tribute to Shoemaker during the event.
“The values the Double C’s honor is friendship, fun, dancing, and loyalty and Jim Shoemaker possessed all of those things. Jim touched the lives of all of the members of the square dance clubs that he was involved with. Jim is a big reason why the Double C’s are still around today.”
The Double C’s meet at the Copperas Cove Public Library every Tuesday in the meeting room with lessons starting at 7:30 p.m. and dancing on Fridays at 7:30 p.m.
Marjorie Mitchell, president of the Double C’s Square Dance Club, dances during the club’s 47th anniversary celebration Friday night at the Copperas Cove Public Library.