Comfort Public Library Home Page
History
THE ARNO SCHWETHELM MEMORIAL BUILDING
The Arno Schwethelm Memorial Building was constructed
in 1916, in the heart of Comfort's business district, on the corner of 7th and
High Streets. Designed by L. Harrington and Company of San Antonio, the building
is of native pitch-faced limestone, quarried locally, and hauled to the
construction site on a Model-T truck. The building, a classic example of the
conservative German culture so prominent in the Comfort community, is named in
honor of the Comfort businessman who built it. The building has served
as a bottling works, general merchandising store, car and tractor
dealership, central buying warehouse for cotton and grain, grocery store, ice
cream parlor and game room, and finally in 1982 became the home of the Comfort
Public Library.
THE COMFORT PUBLIC LIBRARY
On June 8,
1956, the Comfort Public Library was officially formed. The original collection was created by a local book drive
that brought in over 3,000 books. Laura and Tom Bradfield, Edith Giles, and
Rosita Hollar led the founding group. In July of 1956 a 5-member advisory board
was established and a system of operation designed. Edith Giles served as
Comfort's first Librarian.
The
Library was housed in various locations during the period 1956-1982.
Zimmerman Studio, located in the Comfort Theater, Hunter's Casa de
Cazador (now called the Gast House Inn, or Meyer Bed and Breakfast), Stieler
Motors (presently Comfort Cable Bldg.) and eventually the “Old Bank
Building” in 1961. In 1981,
on the 25th anniversary celebration of the Library, the Board of Trustees
accepted the gift of the Arno Schwethelm Memorial Building and the challenge of
renovating the building for use as a library.
In 2000 the building was renovated to accommodate growth and change.
As a library and community, we continue to honor the traditions of the past, provide meaningful service in the present and anticipate the future with eager and informed will.