Library History

1930s

The American Legion Libraries

The luxury of a library nearby is only a recent phenomenon. The closest library for Brentwood began in Franklin in the 1920s when the American Legion opened its Masonic Hall to the public. It was known in the area as the American Legion Library. The Franklin Business Women’s Club raised enough to build a temporary public library by June 26th, 1936, and it was popular enough that Williamson County built its first county library in the Old Bank building in Franklin. Roberta Wikle was the first Brentwood library board representative.

1950s

Dr. Barkers Drug Store

Despite having a public library in Franklin for Brentwood residents, it was a long drive at the time, and several private businesses filled the gap to offer books to the public. The most well-known private initiative was Dr. Barker’s Drug Store on the northwest corner of Old Hickory Blvd and Franklin Road. Dr. Barker left room for a three-shelf bookcase for the public via the honor system to return what they borrow. The building has since been replaced with a Shell gas station today.

1968

Brentwood Cleaners

The Brentwood Cleaners eventually partnered with the Blue Grass Regional Library. They allowed three bookshelves for the community if it would be maintained by the Library system. Circulation reached 540 books in the first year. The cleaners kept the bookshelves until 2001.

1976

Williamson County Brentwood Library

The first permanent library was completed on June 15th, 1976 at the Maryland Farms Complex. At the time it was a branch of the Williamson County Library System. It was only 950 sq. feet, but considerably larger than 3 shelves in a business. It was open only 41 hours a week (closed on Sundays). A library card was $3.00. Filmstrips were available upon request, and all printing services would be sent to Franklin for completion.

1979

The Buchanan House Library

The city purchased the Buchanan House from Claude Dunn for $200,000 for office space, but eventually gave it to the library. It was 2,400 sq. feet, and gave the library its first chance at complexity. It held 16,000 items and allowed for a reference area. There was enough space for programs and had a hidden back staircase. Kathryn Shelhart was its first librarian. Some of the fun summer programming included gathering for Benjy’s Playhouse, becoming a clown, and making pomanders (a perfumed-ball that was worn or carried to protect oneself against infection in times of pestilence. It was also used to counter bad smells). Forty-two children read their 25 books to get a gift card for an ice cream cone. The top reader read a total of 196 books that summer.

1983

The Brentwood Library Is Born

Brentwood took full control of the library in Brentwood in 1983, and hired Gina Bradford as its the first Director. She helped to raise $2000 dollars from Brentwood Place Cinemas and celebrities such as T.G. Sheppard, Jerry Reed, Chris Clark, and Colleen Chapel to buy the first children’s collection.

1987

The New Maryland Farms Library

The city decided to expand the library in a new two-story facility donated by the Maryland Farms. Study carrels and a computer were available to the public, as well as VCR tapes, records, and artwork. Expectations were that it would become a permanent facility, with 14,000 sq. feet and space for 60,000 items. A parade was held opening day, and Mayor Blackburn declared that every last Saturday of April would be thereafter known as Brentwood Library Day.

1998

A Surprising Discovery

Brentwood continued to grow and so did the need for a larger library. The current location at 8109 Concord Road was decided because it was directly in the middle of town and near a major highway that would give fast access from all over town. As workers began to dig out the parking lot, construction was halted, when a grave was uncovered. Further investigation discovered that the library sat on a Mississippian tribal village dating back to the 1200s. The Mississippian people lived in Brentwood until around the 1600s when they disappeared. Its people were best known for their ceremonial mounds such as the site at Cahokia near St. Louis. Archaeologists worked with tribal leaders in the region to recover and preserve the graves and artifacts before construction was resumed.

2002

One Millionth Patron Served

As the Layne family were walking in to check out books, a rain of balloons dropped on them from above. The balloons were in celebration of the library’s one millionth patron at the new facility in only four years time. The achievement was not without its merit, as the Brentwood library was the most visited library in the state with the highest checkout rating as well. As for the Layne family, they were given a book bag, a plethora of children’s books, a fine-free library card, and a drawing of the library, in celebration.

2009

The Latest Library Expansion

The new library encapsulated the ever-changing model of libraries from books to services. Over 8,000 square feet of the children’s area was painted by a local artist, and plaster trees were added to give the space a feeling of outdoor adventure. Circulation no longer just includes the latest books and technology, but musical instruments, telescopes, and public wifi. In 2009 the library expanded from 43,000 square feet to 55,000 in order to offer a specific area for teens, business specialists, and tutoring space.

2017

The John P. Holt Brentwood Library

In 2017, O’Delle K Holt agreed to leave $4.25 million to the city to establish and/or maintain a public library to be named the John P. Holt Brentwood Library, after her late husband. The Holt family were longtime Brentwood residents with family ties to the historic Crockett Home dating back to the 1800s. The city agreed to rename the library and use the funds on enhancements to the facility. Thanks to the generosity of supporters such as the Holts and many more, the library stands today as the cultural gem of the city. Its 55,000 square feet boast unique architecture and the latest library technology available to the public. To ensure that the funding made available was spent responsibly, the library conducted a survey to determine what the public wants in their library. Plans are currently in development to make those dreams a reality.

The Holt Bequest

The Bequest

On October 26, 2017, the City Commission of Brentwood voted to amend the Library’s name from The Brentwood Library to The John P. Holt Brentwood Library in recognition of a bequest from the Holt family estate.

The Holt family moved to Tennessee from North Carolina around 1800 and by 1808 had settled in what is now Brentwood. In 1853 Thomas Holt, grandfather of John P.Holt, built the beautiful two story brick Greek revival house which still stands a short distance from Crockett Road and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. John and O’Delle Holt married in 1924 and made their home at Holtland, now Wildwood. In 1929 they built a modern house near the big house and lived there. John worked the 1,200 acre farm for much of his life. His sister Kate Holt Witherspoon lived at Holtland with her husband and son Charles. By 1965 Charles was the only one left living in the big house and he decided to shutter the house and move in with his aunt and uncle.

In 1984 John decided to sell about 900 acres of the Holt Property, which is now the Raintree Forest neighborhood. John died that same year at the age of 94 and O’Delle passed away nine years later in 1993. Charles sold the remaining 264 acres in 2015 and continued to live in his home on the remaining 8.5 acres until his death in August 2017 at the age of 90. The antebellum house has been sold to a new family and is now being restored to its former glory.

In 1985, O’Delle wrote in her will that the City of Brentwood would receive a sizable gift to either establish or maintain a public library as long as it was named after her beloved husband. Upon her nephew’s death, Mrs. Holt’s will divided the proceeds from the Holt property between the City of Brentwood (for the Library) and the Brentwood United Methodist Church where the Holts and Mr. Witherspoon were life-long members. Mr. Witherspoon was the organist there for 43 years. Education and learning were important to both John and O’Delle. Mr. Holt raised money to pay off Williamson County’s first brick-and-mortar public library, the War Memorial Library, in 1950. Mrs. Holt taught school at Lipscomb Elementary School. One person who remembered O’Delle fondly said “O’Delle Holt would have been in awe of The Brentwood Library. She wanted nothing more than to have a wonderful place for children to have access to books.” The City of Brentwood is honored to accept the very generous $4.2 million gift and the Library is now known as The John P. Holt Brentwood Library.

The Family

John Page Holt married O’Delle Kelly, of Waco, Texas. They lived in the historic home for a while, then built and lived in another home on the property. Mrs. Holt was a teacher at Lipscomb Elementary School. Mr. and Mrs. Holt had no children, but Mr. Holt’s nephew, Charles Witherspoon, Jr., lived with them. Mr. Witherspoon lived on the property from the time he was two years old. He became a teacher and musician and served as the organist at Brentwood United Methodist Church for 43 years. Mr. Witherspoon died in 2017. The property was operated as a plantation in the 1800s and various reports indicate between 14 and 100 slaves worked on the plantation over the years.

Bequest Account Guidelines

The City of Brentwood John P. Holt Bequest Account (hereinafter referred to as the “Holt Account”) shall be established and maintained with the funds provided by the estate of O’Delle K. Holt. Acceptance of said funds was approved by Resolution 2017-78 of the Brentwood City Commission on October 26, 2017. At the time of acceptance, the balance of the funds totaled approximately $4,200,000.

The Holt Bequest shall be administered in accordance with the following:

AUTHORITY

The City Commission shall have sole authority to determine the investment and utilization of funds in the Holt Account.

The John P. Holt Brentwood Library Board shall provide a recommendation to the City Commission, no less than annually, regarding utilization of the Holt Account funds.

INVESTMENTS

The investment of Holt Account funds shall be in accordance with the adopted Investment Policy of the City of Brentwood, as well as applicable State law. This includes the primary objectives, in priority order, of: a) Safety of Principal, b) Liquidity, and c) Yield.

ENDOWMENT PRINCIPAL

Seventy-five percent (75%) of the funds shall be designated as “Endowment Principal.” The Endowment Principal shall remain intact and shall be invested to produce an interest return (“Endowment Return”) that may be used for projects meeting the definition of an “Approved Use,” as set forth below.

SHORT-TERM PROJECT FUNDS

Twenty five percent (25%) of the funds shall be designated as “Short-Term Project Funds.” These funds shall be available for expenditures on projects meeting the definition of an “Approved Use”, as set forth below.

APPROVED USES

Projects eligible for funding with either Short-Term Project Funds or Endowment Return must meet the following requirements:

Must not supplant normal operating or capital renewal/replacement costs that would otherwise be borne by the City;

Must not create an ongoing funding requirement beyond four (4) years, other than future renewal/replacement costs;

Must meet the objective of being an enhancement to the facility, grounds, or services of the John P. Holt Brentwood Library and its users.

REVIEW AND AMENDMENTS

This policy shall be reviewed at least annually by the Library Board and City Commission. Any amendments to these guidelines may originate from the City Commission, or may be recommended by the John P. Holt Brentwood Library Board to the City Commission for approval.