W. W. Jones Home on S.
Upper Broadway
-McGregor
Photograph Collection 1-Box
4
On October 11, 1937, the City of Corpus
Christi moved La Retama Library to 501 South Upper Broadway. This was
the former home of W. W. Jones. This purchase for the library became
possible when
Lorine Jones Spoonts Lewis, one
of the heirs to her father’s estate, donated her $10,000 interest in the
house. This was the first building purchased exclusively for La Retama
Library. La Retama Club member, Nellie Blucher Derry, later recalled,
“It was wonderful—for the first time plenty of elbow room—spacious
rooms, plenty of light—many rooms making it possible to have one for
historical items, one for children’s room, a reference room—a reading
room, a wonderful location swept by the sea breezes. But not yet the
dream library building for it was a frame building, not fireproof, so
the idea of a future permanent home was still kept alive.”
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