Hours of Operation
Tuesday - Friday
10 am - 4 pm
Contact Information
204 South Main
Gordon, Texas
254.693.5680
www.GordonLibrary.org
The old rock building that houses the Gordon Community Library & Museum is possibly the oldest structure in Gordon, Texas. According to John Boyd Harlin, son of the man who once operated a store in the building, the building was built sometime between 1880 and 1900 from sand rock taken from a quarry on top of Swank Mountain (the mountain that is on the northern edge of Gordon just east of Highway 919). It was built by Silas Graves, a local man who operated a store there, probably groceries. In about 1922, John Bunyan Harlin opened a store in the building, handling mostly grocery staples: flour, sugar, coffee, lard, beans, canned goods and tobacco.
In time, the rock building grew too small for the merchandise on hand and it was said, in a joking manner, that once you got in the front door you had to go through to the back door and go out in order to turn around.
One of the unique aspects of the new interior is the painted ceiling and the mural around three walls, which is the work of local landscape artist Bonnie Dickson, who is well-known for her bluebonnet scenes. A generous grant from the Tocker Foundation funded purchase of computer equipment and office furniture. Books came from donations and from purchases made with grant money. The library opened to the public in the Spring of 2010.