Former Memorial Library Building

Before there was the Butt-Holdsworth Memorial Library,  an earlier building, in the 300 block of Water Street, served as the public library.  The earlier library, a rock building, is being renovated for office space for Crenwelge Motors. 


Like many buildings in Kerrville, this one is older than many realize.  It was constructed in 1938.


In July 1938 D. W. Starkweather bought three lots on Water Street that became the church property.  On Aug 4, 1938, the Kerrville Times reported the Pentecostal pastor, D. W. Starkweather, trustee, obtained a building permit for "300 Water Street, rock veneer building, 38x58 feet; $2,500." 

Then September 8, 1938, Kerrville Times ran a story about the new Pentecostal Church.  They were having a pie and cake sale to raise funds to finance the building of the church, which was then under construction at the corner of Water and Hays St.    (Can you imagine paying a mortgage by selling baked goods?)


By February, 1939, the Pentecostal Church was meeting here, so the building must have been finished.  The Pentecostal Church continued to meet here until 1958, when the Library Board purchased it for the new Memorial Library.



When the library moved to the new building on the river in August 1967, the rock building returned to its original purpose as a church and was home first to the Mormon Church then to Conquest Christian Center.