This site sponsored by:

The City of Yoakum

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LOCATION

HOURS

COLLECTION

SERVICES

EXHIBITS

Carl & Mary
Welhausen Library 
810 Front Street
361-293-5001
sburton@cityofyoakum.org
Susan Burton, Librarian

Open 9a.m – 6p.m 
Closed weekends and holidays

Over 21,000 Books, Paperbacks,  Video, Audio and Genealogy Materials

Reference services for
general research, public internet access as well as Genealogical Services.

 Summer programs for Youth

Spring Science Project
April

Christmas Display
December

Housed in the old Yoakum power plant building, the Carl and Mary Welhausen Library is proud to be a Texas historic site with 50-foot-tall ceilings, a mezzanine and skylights. The old overhead crane remains in the building as a reminder of days gone by. The structure is located near the historic tomato sheds and railroad of Yoakum. In 1991 the library received a most prestigious award from the Downtown Merchants Association for 'Best Adaptive Reuse of an Existing Building'. The building was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in   1993, and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places by the U.S. Department of the Interior.

For twenty years the old power plant had been used as a mechanic's garage when City officials offered the building to the Friends of the Library for a library. The renovation project began in 1988 backed by financial donations from the citizens of Yoakum. The primary donor being Carl and Mary Welhausen for which the library was named. Other funds for the project were a matching federal grant for $100,000 and $50,000 from the Meadows Foundation. The new facility was completed in 1991 and the opening dedication was held on Sunday, April 21, 1991.

Carl & Mary Welhausen Library