THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2?, 1969
HOUSTON WEST SIDE REPORTER
THE HOUSTON WE
Ground Broken For New Library Near Fairbanks
Ground was broken Wednesday
afternoon at 2:00 o’clock for the new
County Library near Fairbanks. The
pound breaking was accomplished by
County Commissioner E. A.
“Squatty "Lyons and County Judge Bill
Elliott, with Mrs. Betty Fowlkes,
chairman of “Fairbanks Friends of The
Library" and Mrs. Mary Owensby,
director of the Harris County Library
System, looking on approvingly.
Ground Broken Wednesday, Feb. 19, For New
County Library To Serve Fairbanks Area
An occasion that had been hoped for
by the residents of the Fairbanks area
became a reality Wednesday, Feb. 19, at
2:00 p.m. when a large group of
interested citizens and county officials
met on West Little York near Central
Park to break ground for a new library to
be erected immediately.
Mrs. Betty Fowlkes, mistress of
ceremonies, called the group to order and
expressed her appreciation for those who
braved a light drizzle of rain and a cold
east wind to participate in the
ceremonies. She further thanked all those
who have helped to bring the dream for a
library into a reality .
Rev. Herman Millikan, pastor of the
Fairbanks Methodist Church, was called
on by Mrs. Fowlkes to give the
invocation. This was followed by the
introduction of several guests which
included, Dick Doss, county engineer;
Grady Fullerton, who will assume the
office of county auditor upon the
retirement of S. B. Bruce within the next
sixty days; Richard Ray craft, assistant to
Judge Bill Elliott, and J. C. Schubert, of
the Schubert Construction Company
who will build the library.
Harris County Judge Bill Elliott was
introduced and offered his help in any
capacity that he might be used in the
furtherance of the county library system.
He expressed his appreciation for the
privilege of being present for the ground
breaking and meeting his many friends in
the area,
Mrs. Eleanor Shobert, retired
Postmistress of Fairbanks, gave a brief
istory of the library, which was started
in 1922s
Mrs. Mary Owensby, director of tht
Harris County Library System, gave a
brief outline of Fairbanks as it is today
and expressed her delight with the new
facility as it is planned.
Another friend of the Fairbanks area,
E. A, “Squatty" Lyons, County
Commissioner of Precinct 4, was
introduced and gave a short talk on the
progress of the community in the past
rew years and invited the citizens to look
forward to greater progress in the near
future. He expressed delight at being
invited to assist in securing funds for the
library and it was through his tireless
efforts that Federal funds were made
available to help defray the cost of the
new library building.
The assembly was dismissed with a
closing prayer by Rev. M, M. Stone,
pastor or the Fairbanks Baptist Church.
Following the prepared program, the
actual ground breaking was accomplished
by E. A. “Squatty" Lyons and County
Judge Bill Elliott, with Mrs. Betty
Fowlkes and Mrs. Owensby looking on.
The history of the Fairbanks Library
reads like a “rags to riches" story. It was
started in 1922 with 200 volumes stored
in a home-made book case. It progressed
to the point where a small frame building
was erected just off Hempstead Highway
on the Fairbanks-North Houston Road.
The same little building has served for
many years and the books have been
extensively used by area residents.
In 1966 it became obvious that a larger
library must be provided for the use of
the rapidly expanding community. A
group of interested citizens got together
and formed what they were pleased to
call the “Fairbanks Friends of the
Library," with Mrs. Betty Fowlkes as
chairman. Mrs. Fowlkes immediately
enlisted any individual whom she
thought could and would assist.
She went after the civic and service
organizations which included the Cy-Fair
Lions Club, the Jersey Village Civic Club
and the Northwest Ministerial Alliance.
Representatives of the group called on
Mr. Lyons and enlisted his sympathy and
efforts in the venture. The money was
not available for the entire project within
the county coffers and an application was
initiated for aid from the Federal
Government. Eventually, a grant of
$50,000.00 was obtained and the county
offered to match that amount. Finally , it
developed that the proposed building
would cost $108,850.00 and the county
agreed to pay the extra amount.
A contract has been let to the Schubert
Construction Company of Houston for
the erection of the building which will
have an area of 5,000 feet, which includes
a small auditorium which will seat a
maximum of 50 people. It will be
available for community meetings.
Mrs. Mary Owensby was interviewed
with a few pertinent facts concerning the
library coming to light. She stated that
the library will have a capacity of around
20 or 25 thousand volumes but will have
initially about 15,000 which will leave
roori to grow as the need arises, She
stated that the library will be open forty
to sixty hours a week with one or two
evenings a week open for the use of those
who are unable to get to the library
during the day. “I am delighted that the
Fairbanks area will soon have the kind of
library facilities that has been needed,"
commented Mrs. Owensby.
