see – Fayette County Courthouse – After Restoration
see – Fayette County Courthouse history
County Seat – LaGrange
Built – 1891
Style – Romanesque Revival
Architect – J Riely Gordon
Pictures Taken: February 27, 2004
Impressions: Quite an impressive representation of the style the heavy Romanesque style so favored in the the late 1800’s. In fact, when it comes to public buildings, J Riely Gordon was one of the more known of the architects in Texas. A good number of his courthouses still stand, including the very large and unusual Bexar County courthouse in San Antonio. The details are what makes this building stand out. The frieze or carvings over the entrances are stunning. And the gargoyles – wow!
We probably visited here during a stay in the state park in Bastrop (Lost Pines – great little park if you’re looking for somewhere to spend a little time). The courthouse was closed, and more importantly, it was in the process of being restored – so scaffolding was one of its unexpected features. We stopped again, a few years later, and the work had been completed – so I’ve opted to present the original visit here and the gallery of the visit after restoration on another page. Great way to compare. In fact, there’s a short YouTube clip I’ve referenced to get you more into the restoration of this gem.