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 Texas : Architecture / Images : Carnegie Libraries
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CARNEGIE LIBRARIES
in Texas

Of the 1689 Carnegie Libraries built, 32 were in Texas.  Of these, 13 remain with only 4 serving their original purpose. 

About Carnegie Libraries

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Of the 1689 Carnegie Libraries built, 32 were in Texas.  Of these, 13 remain with only 4 serving their original purpose.  While around the country Carnegie Libraries are being used for everything from dance studios to law offices, in Texas all serve civic functions.
CityDate Built

Carnegie Libraries

In use today as:
Abilene1907Razed 1958-
Ballinger 1908 -Library
Belton1903- Museum
Brownwood1903 Razed 1965-
Bryan1902- Library Feature
Clarksville1902Destroyed by fire 1980-
Cleburne1903-Museum
Corsicana 1904Razed 1967

-

Dallas1899Razed 1954-
Dallas Branch? - Status Unknown
El Paso1902 Razed 1968-
Fort Worth1899 Razed 1937-
Franklin1913- Library
Gainesville1912- Playhouse
Greenville1903 Razed 1953-
Houston1899Razed -
Houston?Branch razed in 1970sReplaced
Jefferson1906- Library Feature
Memphis1912Razed Mid 1980s -
Palestine1912- Chamber of Commerce
Pecos1911 Razed early 1960s-
Pittsburg1898 Fire 1939-
San Antonio1900 Razed 1929* (?)-
Sherman1912- Museum
Stamford 1908-Library
Sulphur Springs 1909 Razed-
Temple 1902Fire 1918 -
Terrell 1903- Museum
Tyler1903- Museum
Vernon 1915Razed late 1970s-
Waco1902 Razed-
Winnsboro1908 Razed 1967-
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Carnegie Libraries Forum

Editor's note: Anna Thomas' mention of the Belton Carnegie Library piqued our interest and so we asked if she'd mind writing about her patronage. Her story follows:

Dear Texas Escapes, As a child growing up in Belton, my fondest memory of going to the Carnegie Library was sitting in the rear room to the right. There lying on the table would be an old fashioned Stereo Photo Viewer. It was wooden and had a sort of telescopic lens that you could see through and at the far end was a postcard holder . Being hand held, you could insert the card and slide it near or far and it was very interesting . My favorite cards were about history and animals.

I dont recall the name of the lady Librarian, but I do remember that she was very nice and always so helpful to me. I enjoyed looking through different books there, and yet I never did have a library card.

... I encourage other visitors to Texas Escapes to share their stories, as we all have a story just waiting to be told. Thank You, again, for allowing me to tell a small part of mine. - Anna Thomas (Anna Jane Davis) Belton, Texas, June 24, 2004
Carnegie Library Links

Source:
Carnegie Libraries Across America : A Public Legacy, Theodore Jones, Prservation Press, 1997

*This could be an error - The Hertzburg Circus museum now occupies a Greek Revival building with inscribed quotes from Emerson, Goethe et. al. It was obviously a library).

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