Last weekend, my family and I traveled to Lockhart, Texas for my niece’s wedding. My sister-in-law, who knows what a book nerd I am, encouraged me to visit the library downtown, giving me a hint at the historical significance of the building. I couldn’t resist!
The library in Lockhart, named in honor of Dr. Eugene Clark, is the oldest, continuously run library in the state of Texas. It was designed and built by T.S. Hodges in 1899 in a French Renaissance style. When erected, it stood near the opera house, in the cultural center of Lockhart.
Here is what it looks like today.
Since we visited in December, it was decorated for Christmas, and was absolutely beautiful on the inside. There was an entry area with an old rolltop desk and shelves. Then inside you can see the dark wood shelves, stage, and a beautiful stained glass window that features a book at it’s center.
Here’s a lovely view from the stage.
I so wanted to climb the spiral staircase to the upper floor, but I wasn’t s ure if it was allowed, so I forced my son to pose by it instead.
They had a more modern wing as well. This was where most of the books were stored. The children’s area was so fun, I twisted Peter’s arm again to jump into the photo.
Of course, I had to get a photo singing with the carolers outside.
While we were in the beautiful downtown area, I couldn’t leave without getting a few photos of the gorgeous courthouse at the center of the town square.
The cornerstone was laid on August 15, 1893 and completed on March 19, 1894. The 3-story structure is built of sandstone with red sandstone trim. The courthouse is topped by a central clock tower, with additional towers at each corner and flanking the north and south entrances. When it was built, the structure was equipped with the latest conveniences of the day, including electricity.
What is something you love about your local library?
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That’s neat! I love that I live in a city that has a public library. There’s an interesting sculpture of Prometheus outside and the children’s section has a new theme every 3 months or so. There is a nice youth section and a computer area and a craft / make center as well as a great selection of books both fiction and nonfiction, as well as periodicals. It is clean and welcoming!
Our library also hosts a Friends of the Library book sale about 4 times a year, providing books (donated by the public and library discards) to anyone who wants them for a very reasonable price. I’ve found many treasures at these sales over the years!
What a wonderful community library, Ami! Our local library also has a massive book sale once a year. My daughter and I love to go and find new treasures to bring home with us.
I love this! I don’t live anywhere close to a library now but when my children were small, we went at least once a week and always stocked up on books when they had their annual book sale.
I love that you have those memories, Rhonda. The library played a huge role in my childhood as well. My favorite place to go!
Beautiful pictures. We have 7 libraries in our county, I have visited them all. They usually have books for sale all the time. I have found many a gem to buy.
How fun that you have visited all 7 in your county, Marina! That’s quite an accomplishment. 🙂
Love the pictures.
It was such a lovely building. I adored imagining the history living in those shelves and walls.
What a beautiful library. I love old buildings. I think of those who put blood, sweat and tears building them.
I agree, Nancy. There is something about the craftsmanship of those old buildings that really make them special. I love touring old homes and buildings an imagining myself stepping back in time.
So cool. Love the architecture.
Our library system has really cool-themed children’s sections.
I love libraries that cater to a child’s imagination. We need more book lovers in the world, and capturing thieir attention when they are young is a great way to instill a livelong love of reading.
Hey Karen! I enjoyed the pictures. I love the old buildings. I rarely go to the library these days. But, I loved our old library at home (Live Oak)when I was younger and when my children were small. They built a newer one back in the ‘90’s and it is really nice. Thanks for the visual trip!
I don’t go to the library as much as I did when I was younger, either. Maybe when the grandkids start coming, I’ll get back into the habit. 🙂
That is sooooo beautiful!!! Thanks for sharing the pictures!!
You’re so welcome. It really is a beautiful place.
The pictures are gorgeous!
Thank you! It was extra special to be there with all the Christmas decorations. They added another level of warmth and welcome.
I recently found out that my library and the one in the town where I work are both Carnegie libraries.
I would have either started up those stairs or asked if it was allowed 🙂 Who am I kidding? no rope to block off the stairs, I would have started up them! That is a beautiful library and those are beautiful buildings.
You are braver than I am. Ha! There was another spiral staircase that was roped off, so I wasn’t sure if this one was open on purpose or accident. I should have asked, but we didn’t have a lot of time to explore before getting to my niece’s wedding rehearsal, so I let it go. I’ll have to return and be braver next time. 🙂
That is a beautiful library, A place you could sit and read for hours in. What I love about my library is I can walk to it in less that 5 minutes. I wish I was this close to the library when I was a child.
What a luxury to be so close that you can walk to the library whenever the whim strikes! I think it would strike me pretty often. 🙂
I love libraries, and librarians are some of my favorite people. I’ve always found them so helpful.
I agree. Librarians have some of the sweetest souls around.
Wow! This library is beautiful. It’s easy to see how well-loved and well-cared for it is. Bravo to all those who have worked tirelessly over the years to maintain its heritage! What a gift Lockhart has in its midst!
I agree, Pam. Such a treasure!
What a beautiful library!
Yes! I was so glad I got to see it dressed up in its Christmas finery. 🙂
I love that there are 8 Libraries in this city and a bookmobile.
That’s amazing! A community that values reading is lovely to see.
Karen, the library is gorgeous! Thanks so much for sharing all the great photo’s and your son too for being such a good sport.
The library’s I visit in CT aren’t that special. Although the one in Naugatuck CT is old, unique and pretty in some of the older areas that weren’t modernized. It was built with lot’s of marble and was donated by a wealthy family many years ago. I think they may still decorate the lobby for Christmas which also includes an old grandfather clock and pictures of the founding family.
That old library in Naugatuck sounds lovely, Lynn. And yes, Peter is a good sport. He stopped rolling his eyes long enough for me to take a picture. Ha!
I love that the library has many activities, I attended a talk by Liz Johnson about her many trips to Prince Edward Island and her books. This was terrific, I bought three of her books to give myself for Christmas.
Love that, Becky! Prince Edward Island is on my bucket list of places to see.
What a beautiful library! Thank you for sharing the photos.
I am on the Friends of the Library board for our local public library. We do 4 book sales a year to raise funds for the library to provide programs for the community. I have taken advantage of several classes this year including learning how to play bridge. ? our library has always been one of my favorite places to visit. ?
How fun! My husband taught me to play bridge years ago. I’m very rusty, but it’s a fun game. 🙂
Such a Beautiful Library Thanks for sharing Love the Pictures!
Thanks, Sarah!
Hi Karen, I loved our library & spent time in it whenever I could. It was old like the one pictured in this newsletter. I loved to sit in a corner & read or just browse through the many book aisles. Now a business is in that location & we have a modern up-to-date library. I still loved the old one…..
There is so much to like about the modern conveniences and technology of a new building, but I just love the charm and hisotry of old ones.
Why doesn’t anyone in my family get married in a town with such a fantastic library (and I’m from a big family)? You really lucked out that time, Karen.
Didn’t I? 🙂 It was a great weekend for so many reasons.
And it’s time to go to bed: I skipped the main question the first time I commented! I love that all the staff at our town’s branch of the county library are so friendly and helpful (my husband, on the other hand, can’t abide all the changes that have been made so that more people now use the library [Maker Space, children’s activities any time and all over, people talking when using the public computers…]).
I can relate to your husband, Mary. While part of me is glad that libraries are a place where the community can come and do things that aren’t book related, my heart misses the quiet hush of a library where reading was the main objective. Our university library is more coffee shop than anything, with the books hidden down in the basement. Makes me a little sad.