Our Building: The Union Mercantile

Our library is located in the historic 1906 general store which began in the early 1870s as a small adobe building and grew into the spacious Union Mercantile we have today.  It is also known as the Keesey Building -- a nod to former Army baker-turned-businessman Whittaker Keesey who was responsible for its initial construction.  The building even prominently features "W. Keesey" on its facade.

The Union was built in the unique "Alamo style" of architecture, using huge adobe blocks faced with stone. 

The 6,000 square foot, L-shaped store was in a compound surrounded by several outbuildings that served as a corral, lumber yard, and storage  In 1908, Whittaker Keesey sold it to a group of local financial backers, commonly referred to as "the Union," and the building therefore became the Union Mercantile Building. 

The iron bars visible on all of the windows and doors were added after an early burglary took place.  Much of the original interior has been maintained.  Historical elements include the painted tin roof ceiling, an impressive meat display case, and a hand-operated freight elevator.

In 1950, the building was sold to Tyrone Kelly, and it became a hardware/lumber business until 1983 when it was leased to Bob Dillard as True Value until 1989.  Kelley's estate sold the building to artist Donald Judd in 1990.

The county purchased the building in 1994 from the Judd estate.  In  1996, documentation was undertaken to better understand the architecture of the building; drawings from that process can be found on the Texas A&M University's College of Architecture website here.   

After five years of restoration, the building opened as a library in November 1999.  Twenty years later (2019-2020), it underwent extensive repairs and renovations.  In 2024, generous grants from several charitable foundations -- as well as a successful local fundraising effort by the Friends of the Jeff Davis County Library -- allowed us to replace the library's aging furniture and shelving, as well to undertake some needed maintenance.  The result is a library building that continues to respect and celebrate the town's heritage, while at the same time ensuring that it is a warm, open, and welcoming  gathering space for current residents and visitors, including local children. 

The library is the social center of the town of Fort Davis, and the focal point of our Memorial Square.  It is the only library in Texas which has been awarded a Landmark Medallion, a State Historical Marker, and a Literary Landmark designation.  You can watch the ceremony for the Literary Landmark designation in honor of local author Lonn Taylor via the YouTube video embedded below.