History of the Library

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In 1936, ten local women who enjoyed reading would meet periodically to exchange books; namely Mrs. Sam Devall, Mrs. Edwin Timm, Mrs. M. L. Kroschel, Mrs. G. C. King, Mrs. Nina Parr, Miss Estacia Morgan, Miss Majorie Jolly, Mrs. Scott Hill, Mrs. Paul Fertsch and Mrs. Hilton O. von Rosenberg.  In 1937, this group of women decided to organize as a club and the Hallettsville Reading Club was established.

In 1937, Mrs. Max Kroschel and three other members of the Reading Club appeared before the Hallettsville Chamber of Commerce asking for aid in securing a community library and offering the aid of the Reading Club.  Federal aid was requested thought the WPA; but to qualify it was necessary that a sponsor be secured and a minimum of 200 books made available.  The Rotary Club agreed to sponsor and the community secured the number of books.  The WPA hired a librarian and the Lavaca County Library was formed.

The Lavaca County Library was housed in a 10 X 10 room in the City Hall and on May 26, 1938 opened its door’s to the public. 

In 1940, the Rotary Club withdrew its sponsorship of the library and the Reading Club assumed the responsibility.  Along with the Reading Club, the Rotary Club, Lion’s Club and the Chamber of Commerce raised funds to support the library for many years. 

In the July 1, 1945 minutes of the library board it was written that of the 254 counties in Texas, only 30 maintained county libraries of which Lavaca County was one.

For the next 15 years the library suffered financial difficulties.  During this period, the library remained in the 10 X 10 room in the City Hall building.

On December 22, 1962, Mr. J. H. Simpson donated a city lot at the corner of Kelly and Fourth streets for a new library building.  On October 7, 1963, the City of Hallettsville passed a library ordinance establishing a library department and named a library board to conduct same under city approval. 

Bids for the construction of the Friench Simpson Memorial Library were opened on September 8, 1964, but all bids were rejected.  Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Simpson Sr. volunteered to contribute toward the project if the City would complete the building and equipment as originally planned.  On this basis, the City re-advertised for bids and entered into a contract on December 11, 1964.

On March 20, 1966, the Friench Simpson Memorial Library was dedicated and opened to the public.  The library was named for Friench Simpson (1848 – 1923) local farmer, banker, author and state senator.

A Friends of the Library group was formed in 1990 by local citizens interested in fundraising and volunteer work in the library.

In 1991, an expansion project was begun for a needed addition to the original library facility.  Five years later, the expansion was completed and was dedicated on November 12, 1996.  The addition was named in memory of William W. David Jr. (1951-1992) the great grandson of Friench Simpson.

A second expansion project was announced by the library board on August 28, 2002.  On May 27, 2003, a ribbon cutting was held to open the addition which housed a reading room, a local history/genealogy department and additional space for shelving.