The McDermott Building:
A Historic Landmark in Fredericksburg, TX
The McDermott Building houses Pioneer Memorial Library, who serves Gillespie County and the surrounding areas. The building is an iconic structure in Fredericksburg, possessing a history spanning over a century.
The story of this building starts in 1882 with its initial construction as Gillespie County’s second courthouse. The design was selected through a public competition with a $50.00 prize for the best submission (as of 2024, that would be equivalent to $1545.59). The contest was advertised in San Antonio and Austin newspapers, drawing wide-spread interest throughout the state.
The winner was Alfred Giles (1853-1920), who was a prominent San Antonio architect. Giles was a leading designer in Texas, responsible for several other local landmarks. His idea for the building included architectural symmetry with balanced facades on all sides—north with south, east with west. Matching porches, chimneys, and louvered dormers add to the harmonious appearance. The southern porch was originally open but was later partially enclosed for mechanical and storage needs.
The building served as the Gillespie County Courthouse until August 16th, 1939 when a new courthouse was erected. It was used by various organizations for offices, meetings, and storage, along with briefly housing City of Fredericksburg offices. After 1939, it was abandoned and entirely condemned. By 1963, it was in complete disrepair and infested with bats and pigeons.
Eugene and Margaret McDermott
Euguene McDermott (1899-1973) and his wife, Margaret McDermott (1912-2018) sponsored restoration for the building in 1965. Mr. McDermott was a Dallas scientist, businessman, and philanthropist who always sought to improve education for the public, and the couple saw the formerly beautiful second courthouse as deserving to be resurrected into a library.
Major restoration completed in 1967. In their honor, the building was named the McDermott Building. The library’s main space was located on the first floor’s east side, which is currently the youth room. The second floor—originally a courtroom—became the main adult library area named Milam Hall, after Ms. McDermott’s maiden family name.
A second restoration was done to the McDermott Building in 1984. Additional restoration was funded by Mrs. McDermott, matching local donations. The restoration preserved original features while expanding the space to serve the community’s growing needs.
Today, the McDermott Building continues to serve as Pioneer Memorial Library, a center of learning and culture for both the city of Fredericksburg and Gillespie County. It exists as a historic symbol of Fredericksburg’s commitment to preserving its past and supporting community education.
Some notable architectural features of the building include:
- An elegant spiral staircase near the east entrance, leading to the district judge's bench
- A large wall hanging titled "Our Town" by artist Carletta Gydeson Broun (1902-1994), added in the 1967 restoration
- Several items preserved from its time as a courthouse, such as the original benches and witness stand
- Brass doorknobs with hummingbird designs, added in the 1967 restoration
McDermott Building Artwork
"Our Town" by Carletta Gydeson Broun
"Our Town" is a tapestry located on the second floor of the McDermott Building. It was created by the late Mrs. Carletta Gydeson Broun of Ingram, Texas. It was commissioned in April 1966 as part of the restoration of the old courthouse. It took approximately nine months to complete, and was unveiled in 1967 as part of the library's opening.
The tapestry uses natural-colored burlap, bonded to Sta-Flex for added structure and to prevent stretching, and hand-dyed, hand-carded woolen yarns. The techniques Mrs. Broun used to create this artwork included stitchery, hooking, appliqué, collage, handweacing, and crewel embroidery. It measures 5 ft x 9 ft.
Some historical landmarks featured in the work include the Vereins Kirche, Nimitz Hotel, the McDermott Building, Cross Mountain, and a Sunday House. Town Creek, Barons Creek, and the Pedernales River are all local waterways which are also depicted.
