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The
Tyrrell Historical Library
Beaumont, Texas 695
Pearl Street
A. N. Dawson, Architect
Built in 1903 as the First Baptist
Church |
| | The
Tyrrell Historical Library
TE photo, 9-04 |
The most
eye-catching building in downtown Beaumont is the Tyrrell Library. Constructed
in 1903 as the First Baptist Church of Beaumont, it replaced a red brick church
that had previously occupied the site.
The rough-quarried limestone
exterior instantly reminds the first-time viewer of a medieval castle (with stained-glass
windows). The building is an example of Richardsonian design. Professor Jay C.
Henry in his book Texas Architecure 1895 - 1945 states that it might pass for
Richardsonian Romanesque "were two great Gothic windows not used to light the
sanctuary." We were about to say the same thing. |
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Postcard
of the building when it was still the First Baptist Church
Courtesy
THC |
| | The
building today
TE Photo, 5-03 |
Twenty
years after it was built, the Baptist congregation had outgrown the church and
so it was put on the market. Captain William C. Tyrrell purchased the building,
stained-glass windows and all, and donated it to the city for use as a public
library - an act that almost certainly saved it from eventual destruction. It
has retained the name Tyrrell but has since become a historical and genealogical
research library.
© John Troesser
Beaumont
Hotels > Book Your Hotel Here & Save |
| | A
view of the library, theater and the railroad bridge over the Neches River
TE photo, 5-03 |
Subject:
Library comment
In your introductory photo of Beaumont,
I see the tower of the old Tyrrell Public Library in the foreground. When we moved
to Beaumont in June of 1968, I was nine. Our house was only the second one to
be built on our block so there weren't any other kids to play with. My mother
would take us to the library every week. |
| | The
Tyrrell Historical Library tower
TE photo, 5-03 |
The library
was in an old church downtown next to the city auditorium. The children's collection
was in the turret room at the top of winding stairs. On one of the landings was
a glass display case with a vintage doll collection. I always had to stop and
admire all of the dolls. They were historical figures in elaborate costumes and
I loved the detail and colors of the fabric.
I got my first library card,
a pale blue one with a metal ID number. Children were limited to eight books.
A feminist at an early age, I loved the biography series for children which included
famous women. I read about Marie Curie, Florence Nightingale, Elizabeth Blackwell,
and Babe Didrickson Zaharias - who was actually from Beaumont and grew up on streets
we drove by on our way to the library. - Anne L. Cook. Austin, October 04,
2004
Anyone wishing to share photos, memories or stories about the Tyrrell
Historical Library, please contact
us.
Beaumont
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