The Sulphur Springs Public Library was first formed in this building, in 1910, located on Oak Avenue, with
funds secured from the Andrew Carnegie Foundation by the local Waverly Club. The building cost $12,565.00
to build and was home to the local library until 1975, when it moved to its second location of the Old Federal
Post Office Building, on the corner of North Davis and Connally Streets. Now, in it's third home, the Sulphur
Springs Public Library is located at 611 North Davis Street.

 

Sulphur Springs Public Library Celebrates
Centennial With "Books, Bytes, and Beyond"

 

by: Bobby McDonald

 

A handcrafted and decorated cake, designed in the shape of a book and bearing the 100th Anniversary logo,
was the focalpoint of the dessert table at "Books, Bytes, and Beyond," on Friday.

 

The Sulphur Springs Public Library celebrated its centennial year, with a host of activities, this week, including an art show, a book sale, and finally the climax on Friday, with a dessert tasting and book talk. Friday's keynote speaker, Commerce, Texas, native, Dr. Stephen L. Turner, now a Pediatrician in Plainview, Texas, introduced himself as a "raconteur," or storyteller, who was blessed to have genealogists in his family, who had traced his family lineage to the early formation of this country. Turner signed books and presented a "book talk" from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m., Friday, on his now published trio of books, Out of the Wilderness, On the Camino Real, and Under Troubled Skies.

 

This was one of the pieces of artwork by local artist, Edgar Sotelo, that
was featured at the Sulphur Springs Public Library during the week's celebration.

 

Turner, son of Sulphur Springs residents Lynn and Alene Turner, outlined the historical aspects of the three books and gave the large crowd in attendance a "glimpse" of five other books that he plans to complete in the "Western Quest Series" about his family's struggles in forming this nation. "They're all about the great human price, in blood, sweat, and tears, that was paid for me to enjoy a relative life of luxury, today!" explained Turner. "The price of Texas Freedom 'rings' from every page, with the cannonballs flying and the Indian massacres thwarting the family's quest for freedom and a life in this country. The saga will end with my great-grandfather's death, as an old patriot, in 1938, after he's returned from a Civil War Reunion at the Gettysburg Battlefield, to his beloved West Texas."

 

Library patrons admired the beautifully appointed dessert table at Friday's Dessert Tasting,
hosted by the library in celebration of its centennial.

 

 

Turner traces the "Irish" roots of his family from Ireland, to North and South Carolina, to Georgia, and eventually to Texas, as they go about fighting battles in the American Revolution, French and Indian War, Battle of San Jacincto, and Civil War, and will end with a sobering chapter of the saga, when the Dust Bowl of the 1930's "wipes out" their Callahan County farm and ranch. "My grandfather use to say that if a man stayed in West Texas long enough to wear out a pair of boots, he'd never leave," related Turner. "What he didn't go a head and tell you was, that he'd be so poor he couldn't leave, if he stayed that long!"

 

Several pieces of artwork, by local artist Jerry Lee, were on display
during the centennial event at the local library.

 

 

Turner's fourth book, in the series, is already at the publisher and will soon be released, as he continues tracing the family's journey.

Highlights of the first book, Out of the Wilderness, begins with the Turner family in Ireland, when the family patriarch, at age 17, comes to America and lands in South Carolina, where he secures a plantation, that is developed into a tobacco and indigo producing establishment.

 

 

 

The second installment, is the life of Aaron L. Turner, and is entitled, On the Camino Real. Young Turner is a shipper out of Savannah, Georgia, where he deals in the Carribean trade. He comes up the mighty Mississippi River to the Red River, in 1814, where he is involved in the Battle of New Orleans, with Andrew Jackson, as they fight the British near Pea Island. Turner secures land that is attached to Stephen F. Austin's Colongy, where he and his family bring a purebred Shorthorn Bull to breed and upgrade the Texas Longhorns. He breeds a "blooded" Thoroughbred Stallion to the Wild Mustang Mares to develop a superior line of horses, and is known far and wide for his quality mule stock, from his heavy draft horses, that he breeds to a jackass.

 

Commerce, Texas, native and Plainview, Texas, author and pediatrician, Dr. Stephen L.
Turner, shares some humor with his audience at Friday afternoon's "Book Talk," about his
Western Quest Series.

 

 

The third installment in the series, is a continuation of the life of Aaron L. Turner, as he and his family struggle in the Republic of Texas, and the beginnings of the Fight for Texas Independence from Mexico. It traces Santa Anna's rise to power in Mexico, the "crossing of the Red River, by 'The Raven,' and the birth of Texas," as Houston and his "rag-tag" forces of volunteers are involved in the Siege of San Antonio, Goliad, and finally the Battle of San Jacinto, that won our independence!

For purchasing Stephen L. Turner's books, he can be contacted at (806)293-5437 or at 2404 Yonkers, Suite 1, Plainview, Texas 79072.

Meanwhile, on Friday, beginning at 11:00 the Sulphur Springs Public Library hosted a dessert tasting, that featured delicious desserts, including a beautifully handcrafted cake, designed in the shape of a book, and bearing the centennial logo for the library. Patrons paid $10.00 to attend the event and sample the delicious treats.

And, throughout the week of March 1st, artwork by local artists Jerry Lee, Edgar Sotelo, and Jo Ann Durham, has been on display throughout the library. Beautiful artwork was available for viewing thru Friday and featured many Southwestern themed items, as well as the more contemporary work of Durham. Both Lee and Sotelo's works depicted the working cowboy and the "taming of the West!"

If you haven't visited the Sulphur Springs Public Library, recently, it's past time to go and see the many, many exhibits and services offered by the 100 year old institution that continues to serve the community, in the heart of Hopkins County!

 

Author, Dr. Stephen L. Turner, signs copies of his books, for patrons purchasing them at
Friday's celebration in the local library.

 

Dr. Stephen L. Turner's parents, Lynn and Alene Turner, seated right, are residents of Sulphur Springs, now,
and were on-hand, along with many local friends, to hear Turner's entertaining presentation, on Friday.

 

Happy 100th Birthday,
Sulphur Springs Public Library!!!

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