The Sam Houston Regional Library presents to the Dayton Rotary Club

Last week, Rotarian Rachel Ansley presented an informative program to the Dayton Rotary Club. Long-time staff member Alana Inman gave a detailed presentation to club members.

“It has been an honor to work at the Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center for the past 12 years,” said Inman.

Located at 650 FM 1011, near State Highway 146 in Liberty, the center is spread over 127 acres and includes nine facilities with five full-time employees. Hours are Tuesday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Inman invited everyone to visit the library and get involved.

Inman provided a brief history of the library, which began in 1973 when Judge Price Daniel (who served as governor of Texas from 1957 to 1963) and his wife, Jean Houston Baldwin Daniel, donated land between Hardin Cemetery and the site of the 1756 Spanish outpost of Atascosito. The Atascosito Historical Society has been a major fundraiser and supporter of the center since its founding. The Sam Houston Center was dedicated in 1977 and features 180,000 square feet of classrooms, offices, exhibit space, and archival and research areas.

Inman also discussed several historic structures on the site, including the 1848 Gillard-Duncan House, the 1883 Norman House, the 1898 St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, and the 1930 Hull Rotary Club building, which was of particular interest to the Dayton Rotary Club.

Upcoming events at the center include the 2024 quarterly book club. On August 27, “The Lions of Fifth Avenue” will be the featured novel, followed by “The Paris Library” by Janet Skeslien Charles on November 26. The public is welcome to attend these meetings, which begin at 6 p.m.

The club concluded its meeting with the Rotary 4-Question Test. Anyone interested in the Dayton Rotary Club is invited to attend on Thursdays starting at 12 noon at the Dayton Community Center.