The Dr. Eugene Clark Library is
the oldest continually operating library in the State of Texas and the first
city library built in the state. This
unique and historically significant building was built in 1889 and dedicated
on July 6, 1900.
The building was
built with a $10,000 bequest from Dr. Eugene Clark.
Dr. Clark was
a native of New Orleans, and his
father died on the battlefield during the Civil War when Dr. Clark was only
three. Mr. Clark's life-long friend
E.H. Purcell was with him as he lay dying and Mr. Clark requested that Purcell
take care of his wife and son. Three
years later Mrs. Clark lay on her death-bed. She entrusted the care of her young son
to her dearest friend Miss H.M. Young.
Miss Young raised the boy as if she were her own and Mr. Purcell watched over the progress
of the young boy as he grew.
The young Clark
was a great satisfaction to both Miss Young and Mr. Purcell. He graduated from Tulane Medical School
with highest honors and did his residency at Charity Hospital. He graduated in May of 1883 and came to
Lockhart.
He entered practice with Dr. Lancaster, but Lancaster
soon abandoned his practice, leaving the 21 year old Clark to handle the practice
alone. He practiced medicine for 13 years in
Lockhart and during this time a mutual love between Dr. Clark and the town grew.
In 1896, Dr. Clark left Lockhart to study in
London and Vienna. In 1897, he returned to Texas to set up
practice in San Antonio in his new speciality---ear, nose and throat.
While practicing
in San Antonio, Dr. Clark became very ill.
He went to New York for surgery.
On his way to New York he came through Lockhart to see his old friends.
In New York his condition was pronounced incurable, and he left to return
to the only home he had known in New Orleans.
On his death bed,
with Mr. Purcell and Miss Young
by his side he dictated a will specifying that the citizens of Lockhart should
have a library and lyceum. His
will left $10,000 for the building of which $6,000 was to be used for construction,
$1,000 to buy books and the remainder was to be put in a trust to maintain the
building and purchase new books.
The library was
designed and built by Mr. T.S. Hodges, a local Lockhart builder who built many
of the other outstanding building in Lockhart including the old jail and the
First Christian Church.
The library served
as a culturally center for the city of Lockhart for many years. President William Howard Taft has spoken
from the stage in the library and Dorothy Sarnoff has performed here.
The story is told that when Ms. Sarnoff performed
she remarked to her audience "If you are bored with my performance tonight,
you can just reach over and grab a good book to read."
Many local community
groups and organizations held theatrical productions, recitals and concerts
in the library. The Lockhart Community
Concert Group held seasonal programs in the building until 1956.
Many local residents fondly recall the days of performing on the stage
in the library.
The library is a two story Greek cross plan and
is a Classical Revival building of red brick with limestone trim.
Four projecting pedimented pavilions form the arms.
The main facade facing east is divided into three bays by pilasters and
contains a central stained glass memorial window classically framed by pilasters
and a round keystone arch. The
southeast entrance has double doors with a multi-lighted fanlight also framed
by pilasters and keystone arch. Crowning
the building is an octagonal drum, embellished by pilasters and entablature
and supports the central dome.
The architecture
of the building has been a source of curiosity to many professional architects
and the library is visited annually by many amateur and professional architects,
including regular visits by architecture majors from the University of Texas.
Inside the building the pressed tin ceiling,
woodwork, lighting fixtures and shelving along the outside walls are all original
to the building.
When built, the
library had auditorium style seating in the center of the building and on the
balcony. In 1956 the seating was
removed to allow for the expansion of the book collection.
THE IRVING
CLUB
The Irving Club
is synonymous with the library and it is impossible to imagine one without the
other.
The Irving Club
is the second oldest Women's Federated Club in the State of Texas. Founded in September of 1896, the ladies
of this club met over the M.M. Blanks general store. They named themselves for the noted author
Washington Irving. In 1897 they
joined the newly formed Texas Federation of Women's Clubs.
For years they
endured and flourished in several locations around town. While it may have been a surprise to the
town of Lockhart to learn that Dr. Clark had left them the money to build a
library, it was certainly no surprise to anyone when he named nine members of
the Irving Club to the Board of Trustees for the library. It was this Board of Trustees that ordered
the building to be built and that the building should include a single room
off a balcony gallery for the Club to meet in. The first meeting in the Irving Club Room
was held on February 20, 1900.
The Irving Club continues to meet here today
and the furnishing are all original to the room.
The Club has served at various times as a literary club, a newcomers
club, a library auxiliary and a ladies Chamber of Commerce.
Folklore relates the story of Dr. Clark and his
love for a member of the Irving Club. As the tale goes, Dr. Clark fell in love
with Mamie Steele, who was a member of the Irving Club. Ms. Steele did not return his love and
married another. According to the
legend, Dr. Clark never recovered from his love of Mamie Steele and his bequest
to the city was in fact his tribute to Mamie Steele and his un-requited love.
THE PRESENT
Dr. Eugene Clark Library -- Lockhart, Texas
For more information about how to participate in District III Centennial plans, contact Sue Soy at 512-327-8413 ssoy@gslis.utexas.edu
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Last modified March 09, 2002
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