The population of Palestine was 2,997 in 1880. The railroad came to Palestine in 1873, and the boom began. In 1882, the Palestine Public Library was founded. Seven Score and Ten by Jack Seldon quoted from a newspaper article of August 14, 1882 describing the beginning:

"A library society has been chartered, a considerable number of books donated; a library hall is contracted for and will be completed this fall. There is one regularly organized library society, holding regular weekly public meetings."

Fast forward to 1910 when a library association was formed. Request was made for a regular city appropriation of $300 a year. Title to association property was transferred to the city.

The Carnegie Foundation gave $15,000 for a building, with stipulation the City provide the site and not spend less than $1,500 a year for maintenance. The building was dedicated October 21, 1914 and used by the library for 71 years.

The cornerstone for the 1882 building is in the entrance of the present Palestine Public Library. It was discovered in 1956 when the upper floor of a building on Avenue A across from the Presbyterian Church was demolished.

The Carnegie building has been well maintained by the City of Palestine. It is still owned by the city and houses the Chamber of Commerce. It is one of the very few Carnegie buildings remaining in Texas.

The Centennial of the Palestine Public Library was observed April 21, 1982, with ceremonies and a special section in the Palestine Herald-Press.

When Bob Parker became mayor in 1977, he wanted the library to have broader city support with more books, circulation, and activities and a larger budget. He even attended meetings of the Library Board.

It was obvious that the 4,000-square foot building on two floor levels was inadequate for expansion. Expansion of the Carnegie building would have been very expensive and parking was limited

Finding a public library site was difficult. Freta Parkes came up with the answer at a board meeting. "What about the old Alamo School?" she asked.

The Palestine School Board agreed to give the Alamo School building and land to the City of Palestine for a library. The property was transferred May 23, 1983. The city had $200,000 left from the bond issue for a building program. The Board secured a library construction grant of $200,000. City Council passed a resolution giving the Library Board six months to raise the $600,000 still needed.

Clay Cook and Cad Williams are the library's unsung heroes. Williams led the campaign, exceeding the goal with money to spare. The balance is in the Palestine Library Memorial Endowment Fund.


The building permit was issued January 14, 1985, and construction began immediately. Pat Bleick was the Library Director during the building construction. She supervised the move of thousands of books and records from Carnegie to the new building.

The Alamo School building had been completed in 1912. Through the years non-conforming additions had been made to the building. They were removed. The building was gutted. After the roof and floors were removed, only the bare walls were left standing. The rest of the building, including all shelves and furniture, is new.


The new library opened for business April 14, 1986 with a ribbon Cutting ceremony.

The new building has attracted national attention. It is one of only 30 Texas libraries included in a travel book, Public Libraries: Travel Treasures of the West. "An architecturally outstanding building, an exciting place worth a visit of its own" is the way the book describes the library.

The American Library Trustees Association declared the Palestine Public Library the Outstanding Small Library for 1992. The Palestine Public Library was one of the first in East Texas with an automated catalogue. Palestine has an active Friends organization with more than 150 members.

Great changes have been wrought in libraries by new technology. The Library still faces high demands for traditional services such as books and quiet places to study, however. Even though it must meet the demands of a new age, Palestine citizens remember the knowledge of the ages in those bound volumes filling the shelves of their library.