Pelly Branch Library, 1921-1948

Pelly Branch Library, 1921-1948

Founding and Early Years

The library in Pelly opened in June 1921, making it one of the first locations in the newly established Harris County Public Library (HCPL), formed just one month earlier. The location in Pelly was secured largely due to efforts by Mrs. E. T. Arnett, secretary of the Pelly Mothers Club, who petitioned the county to include Pelly in the new library system's plans. Arnett and her husband made multiple trips to Houston to advocate for the library, navigating difficult roads to meet with commissioners and present their case.
 
Initially, the library operated out of the Pelly Bank (pictured on the right) and was open for two hours on Tuesdays and Friday afternoons. The first recorded circulation statistics appear in the 1923 annual report, which notes the branch circulated 6,898 books. By 1925, the Pelly Library had the third-highest circulation in the entire system. Early reports sometimes referred to the branch as "Middletown."
 

In 1929, the library moved to Pelly City Hall, becoming a central community hub. The room at Pelly City Hall served three purposes for the community—on Sundays, it was used for Sunday school classes; throughout the week, it was a public library; and on occasion, the "large, airy library room in the city hall [became] the council chamber for the city council or the arbitration room for the 'meat choppers' and other business men who met to fix prices."

 

Middle Years

 

Circulation continued to rise, with 11,119 books checked out in 1929. With Pelly’s population at just 4,000, this high circulation reflected a strong community interest in reading. County Librarian Ruth Underwood Pooley highlighted the exceptionally high turnover of books in rural libraries in her annual report. During the early 1930s, yearly circulation remained between 11,000 and 15,000 books. Calverta Lannou served as the librarian from 1931 to 1935, followed by Hazel Escobas in 1935.

 
Unlike many HCPL branches housed in schools, which often closed during the summer, the Pelly Library remained open since it was located in City Hall. This allowed local children to participate in summer reading clubs - an early version of today's Summer Reading Program. In 1936, ten children earned diplomas for completing the reading challenge. 
 
During the late 1930s, the Pelly branch's ranking in circulation gradually declined as other libraries—including those in Goose Creek, La Porte, Humble, and Pasadena—saw increased use. The introduction of a new bookmobile in 1937 further impacted circulation system-wide by bringing books directly to communities that had previously needed to travel to library branches. In 1938, the Pelly branch began to offer weekly story hours to help the library bring in more children.
 

Later Years and Eventual Closure

 
Circulation at the Pelly branch continued to drop through the 1940s despite high circulation at the neighboring Goose Creek Library. A list of additions to the Pelly library was published in a local newspaper in July 1944, including a Zane Grey western, reflecting the community’s reading interests. By this time, the library was open every afternoon except Sundays, with Frieda Stern as the librarian.
 
By 1946, the Pelly Library's circulation had fallen to 7,875 books, ranking tenth among HCPL branches. In April 1947, the library relocated from its room at the front of City Hall to a much smaller room at the back of the building. Just three months later, city officials moved it again, this time to the second floor. Frieda Stern resigned, and Rae Collier from Goose Creek Library took over the management of Pelly's collection.
 
From 1945 until 1947, the cities of Pelly and Goose Creek were locked in a legal battle about annexation that ended up before the Texas Supreme Court. In early 1947, a consolidation election was held by Pelly and Goose Creek, and a majority of residents voted to consolidate. The land disputes, which began during the oil boom of the 1910s, had ended.
 
On January 24, 1948, Goose Creek, Pelly, and East Baytown consolidated, forming the newly named city of Baytown. The Pelly Library was permanently closed that September to allow for the renovation of the former Pelly City Hall into the Baytown City Hall. The Goose Creek Library, built in 1925, became the Baytown Library. HCPL continued to provide library service to Baytown until 1963, when the city took over library management. 
 

County Librarian Lucy Fuller Gross on Pelly

First County Librarian Lucy Fuller established the libraries in Pelly, Goose Creek, and Baytown in 1921.  Over the next five years, she transformed HCPL from an idea to a functioning library system before stepping down in January 1926.  More than 50 years later, in 1977, Katherine Skinner Brown was appointed the new Director of HCPL. Around that time, Gross sent a letter reflecting on her pioneering work from half a century before:
 
"I remember Pelly[,] Goose Creek and Baytown of the early 20's - three pathetic small towns - touching each other. Have spent many a day and night there - moving books from one location to another [...] I loved County work - getting books to people - I cannot believe such a tiny beginning could grow into what you have."
Letter from Lucy Fuller Gross to Katherine Skinner Brown
 
In early reports through the early 1930s, the library was called Middletown. To understand why, we need to examine the area's history.
The oil boom at the beginning of the 20th century led to rapid changes in maps and communities. The discovery of oil near Goose Creek meant a rush of oilfield workers and their families moved to east Harris County. The original settlement of workers was known as Old Town. When Old Town became too full, families began squatting on land owned by Fred T. Pelly, who lived nearby. The squatters became renters, and the community quickly became Middle Town (in contrast with Old Town).
In 1916, a well explosion destroyed the Old Town settlement.  Ross Sterling, the founder of Humble Oil and Refining Company, created a new settlement just north of the original site, which he called New Town. So, how did Middle Town become Pelly? From the Texas Almanac: 
"When New Town residents decided to incorporate on January 28, 1919, they took the name Goose Creek and asked for a post office. One night they jacked up and moved by wagon the small frame post office in Middle Town, which had been moved there by residents of Old Town. The move was planned and approved but carried out overnight to minimize business interruption. The story was circulated, however, that New Town 'vigilantes' had stolen the post office, and over time the story became legend. Fearing it might be devoured by the new settlement, Middle Town incorporated as Pelly on January 19, 1920."
While Pelly would have been the established name when HCPL began in 1921, given how quickly these communities were built, library staff likely used the name locals commonly used in daily conversation. In the earliest reports, the library is called "Middletown." Starting in 1930, the library referred to the branch in reports as "Middletown (Pelly)." And in 1931, the branch was finally called "Pelly." 

From the HCPL Digital Archive

1925 Annual Report, Harris County Public Library

1929 Annual Report, Harris County Public Library

Quarterly Summary, April 1 1930, Haris County Public Library

1929 Annual Report, Harris County Public Library

1931 Annual Report, Harris County Public Library

(1935, April 21). Library are centers for communities. From HCPL Scrapbook (1934-1937)

(1935, August 13). Generosity and hard work gave Goose Creek Library that is pride of citizens. From HCPL Scrapbook (1934-1937)

1938 Quarterly Report, January - March, Haris County Public Library

(1944, July 24). Pelly Library gets new books. From HCPL Scrapbook (1941-1948)

1946 Statistical Data Form, Harris County Public Library

Baytown timeline (1948-1954), Harris County Public Library 

(1963, March 26). Deed transfer of Baytown Branch Library.

 

Further Reading on Pelly and Baytown 

Find Out About the Library. Baytown Library. (Accessed February 7, 2025)

Pelly. Texas Alamanc. (Accessed February 7, 2025)

 

Explore Other Topics in the HCPL Digital Archive

Read about service to the Black community in Baytown from 1928-1948.

Learn about the history of Summer Reading Programs at HCPL from 1921 to 1940.