HISTORICAL TIMELINE
1912. An architect from Sherman named William Tackett designed the plans, and the new Gainesville Public Library opened in October of 1914. The building features two levels: an upper main level and a partially submerged basement level. The upper level initially housed the main reading room, the periodical room, librarian’ s area, reference department and children’ s area. The basement held an assembly room and an XLI Club room. The basement also initially held a back entrance and reading room for people of color. When the areas were no longer segregated and everyone was allowed in the main area, the segregated room was converted into a woodworking shop. One of the leaders of the XLI Club, Lillian Gunter, continued to work to spread literacy in the county, opening small“ branch” libraries in businesses and lobbying for a county library law. When the first bill to pass in 1917 was declared unconstitutional, Gunter went to California
to study its new library law that had passed. In 1919, a new version of the law, the County Free Library Law, was passed in Texas based on the California law, which remains in effect to this day. Soon after in 1920, the Gainesville Public Library officially became the Cooke County Library. In 1962, a bond was passed to build a new library, which was opened at 200 S. Weaver St. in 1963 where it still stands. After over a decade of sitting empty, a group devoted to bringing theater to Gainesville began renovating the building in 1979. With its first play,“ Plaza Suite,” the Butterfield Stage Players were formed. Many original features of the building remain, including the librarian’ s desk that now serves as the ticket booth and greeting station for show patrons, including the original fireplace behind it. Additionally, much of the woodwork and columns remain. The main upper area is home to the main stage, including tech booth in the back and a small greenroom and dressing rooms backstage. The basement is now home to the Carnegie Little Theater, offices and costume storage. For years, the only change to the exterior of the building was the addition of an elevator to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. However, the building was recently expanded to include a meeting area, more office spaces and a scene shop.
HISTORICAL TIMELINE
1900: XLI Club opens first public library in Gainesville
1912: XLI Club, led by Lillian Gunter, obtains Carnegie Foundation grant for $ 15,000 to build new library
1914: Gainesville Public Library opens at 201 S. Denton St.
1920: Gainesville Public Library be comes the Cooke County Library
1963: Cooke County Library moves to current location at 200 S. Weaver St.
1979: Butterfield Stage Players begins to convert former library into theater
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