National Register Listing

Gates Memorial Library

317 Stilwell Blvd., Port Arthur, TX

The Gates Memorial Library is notable as a faithful exposition of the Classical Revival style and stands alone as such in the Port Arthur area. Its large scale is reflective of its history. The library was a gift to the city of Port Arthur by Mrs. Dellora R. Gates in 1918 in honor of her husband John W. Gates, philanthropist and industrial magnate of national prominence. As a farsighted city father and benefactor, John Gates also built a Methodist church and founded and built the Port Arthur Business College.

The Gates Memorial Library is one of three building complexes built by the John W. Gates estate on city parkland granted to Gates by the city of Port Arthur in the early years of the twentieth century. Having accumulated a personal fortune in wire and steel manufacturing and oil investments (he was part owner of the famous Spindletop oil well near Port Arthur which ushered in Texas' first great oil boom in 1902), Gates became the city's foremost philanthropist, founding and building the Port Arthur Business College and a Methodist church across the street from and on the same parkland as the library.

The library was built by Gates' wife, Mrs. Dellora R. Gates after her husband died in 1911. In 1916 Mrs. Gates carried out her husband's dream for the library by pledging $30,000 for the building and $25,000 for books. After the Smithsonian Institute researched Port Arthur's geographical area and produced a lengthy study regarding the climate and other physical factors that would aid architects in building a lasting structure, the architectural firm of Warren and Wetmore of New York was chosen to design the library. (The firm had also designed Grand Central Station and the Biltmore and Ritz hotels.) Taking into consideration the findings of the Smithsonian study, the architects designed a building that called for massive quantities of Indiana limestone which enhanced the structure's impressive proportions and careful detailing and made it an excellent example of the Classical Revival style. George A. Fuller Contracting Company of Houston became the builder.

Construction was begun in 1916 and completed in May 1917 at an approximate cost of $75,000. The library and land were given to the city in 1918. The library remained city property until August 1980 when its title was transferred to Lamar University (formerly Port Arthur Business College). The university will continue to use it as a library with the Port Arthur Public Library maintaining a branch. The gallery in the library will continue to serve as the Heritage Room of the Port Arthur Historical Society and will be the permanent home of the Society's museum which will maintain items of historical interest from every decade of Port Arthur history.

Local significance of the building:
Architecture

Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1981.

The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.

! This location also has a designation of a Historical Marker.
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Audiobooks about the history of Texas.
The world's first rodeo was held in Pecos, Texas in 1883. The event included bronco riding, calf roping, and bull riding.
Texas random facts
Jefferson County, Texas, has a rich history that spans back several centuries. It is home to the indigenous tribes who had lived in the area for thousands of years before the arrival of European settlers. In the early 16th century, Spanish explorers reached the area and claimed it as part of New Spain. However, it was not until the early 19th century that the region began to see significant settlement.

In the early 1820s, Empresario Joseph Vehlein obtained a contract to settle 300 families in the region. The land, once inhabited by the Atakapa people, soon attracted settlers of various origins, including Americans, Europeans, and enslaved Africans. The area became known for its fertile soil, offering ideal conditions for agriculture and ranching.

The city of Beaumont was established in the mid-19th century and quickly developed into a major trading and shipping center due to its access to the Neches River and the Gulf of Mexico. The discovery of oil at Spindletop in 1901 marked a turning point in the county's history, as the region experienced a significant oil boom. This brought great prosperity and transformed the area's economy, leading to the development of the petrochemical industry in the following decades.

Throughout the 20th century, Jefferson County witnessed various social and economic changes. It played a key role in World War II, serving as the location for significant military activity, including the establishment of one of the largest military shipbuilding centers in the country. The county also experienced desegregation struggles during the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 1960s, which eventually led to greater equality.

Today, Jefferson County continues to be an important industrial center for petrochemicals and petroleum-related industries. It is also home to a diverse population and offers a mix of urban and rural landscapes, with a variety of cultural and recreational opportunities for residents and visitors.

This timeline provides a concise overview of the key events in the history of Jefferson County, Texas.

  • 1836: Jefferson County is established as a municipality of the Republic of Texas.
  • 1838: The town of Beaumont is founded.
  • 1840: Jefferson County becomes part of the newly-formed State of Texas.
  • 1845: Texas is admitted to the United States, and Jefferson County becomes a county within the state.
  • 1858: A railroad is completed, connecting Beaumont to surrounding areas.
  • 1865: The Civil War ends, and Jefferson County begins to recover from the war's impact.
  • 1881: The Spindletop oil field, the first major oil discovery in Texas, is found in Jefferson County.
  • 1901: The Lucas Gusher at Spindletop oil field erupts, launching the Texas oil boom.
  • 1925: The Neches River is first navigable by deep-draft vessels, boosting the county's shipping industry.
  • 1943: The Port of Beaumont is established as a major center for the shipping and petrochemical industries.
  • 1989: Hurricane Gilbert strikes Jefferson County, causing significant damage to the area.
  • 2005: Hurricane Rita makes landfall in Jefferson County, leading to widespread devastation.
  • 2017: Hurricane Harvey causes widespread flooding in Jefferson County.