History

Texas County Library History-- This page is currently under construction! Please check back soon!!

• How It Began:
  
  A stipulation upon the completion of the Memorial Building, In July 1923,
  was that it be used as a library.  Several women in the community donated 
  months of work through various benefits to raise money for the construction
  of the building.  One special woman, Mrs. Alpha Lamar (wife of Kirby Lamar)
  donated her private collection to establish the Houston Library, a first for
  the town.
   
  One a volunteer basis, Mrs. Effie Blickensderfer, the librarian, with the
  help of Elsie Morgan, kept the library open on Saturdays and during the
  summer months.  People of the community continued to donate additional books,
  increasing the library holdings.
   
  Miss. Velma Fourt, a teacher at the Houston School during the 30's, reminisced
  that the library was a haven during the Depression.  A book offered an escape 
  into a world of adventure, when there was little affordable pleasures. 
  She said she believed she read every book on the shelves.
   
  In the late 30's, the library was removed from the Memorial Building.  Some books 
  and records were placed in a room in the basement of the County Court House.  
  Evidently, this was only temporary as few people interviewed remembered borrowing
  books from that location.
   
  Later, a lending library was established on the upper floor above the local tavern,
  located at 112 North Grand Ave.  The only access to this library was a stairway on 
  the side of the building.  Deacon Elmore was in charge and his daughter, Elsie, worked
  during the day attending to the lending of the books and record keeping.  Ellen McVey 
  and Velma Adams remembered going there to borrow books in the early 40's.
   
  A Library Tax was established by vote on April 2, 1946, thereby enabling a library to 
  once again be placed in the Memorial Building.
   

• First Bookmobile

• First Library

• Library Gets An Award

• Library Photos

• Library Dedication