Named for early settler David Shelby, the town began to develop under the German Adelsverein and the construction of a grain mill by Otto von Roeder. Shelby’s “Harmonie Verein” singing society began in 1875. Harmonie Hall was built as a venue for verein activities in 1883 on four acres for $272.50. With a wood exterior and tin roof, the hall became the center for social life in Shelby – promoting the all-important German-Texan virtues of song, community, art, and science. Those virtues are preserved here even today, as the hall serves as a venue for regular dances, polka concerts, and an antique show that draws visitors from across the state.