County Seat – Centerville
Built – 1886
Architect – William Johnson
Style – Renaissance Revival
Photos Taken – January 3, 2004
see the Historic Leon County Jail – not sure – it may still be in use.
Impressions/storyline – On our drive back from Palestine (New year’s 2004), I took us on a 15 mile detour – to Centerville. The County Courthouse of Leon County was our 7th County Courthouse. The Courthouse is rustic. Not well maintained – but seeming to age gracefully. This well may be the only courthouse that we see lace curtains in. Quite a homey touch. The paint is peeling and in general it could used just a little TLC.
It was built in 1886, and probably is remarkable for the simplistic representation of that time period it represents. It fairly dominates the town, not because of it’s majesty or size, but rather the smallness of Centerville, and it’s relative rural poverty look. Not fair to Centerville, but honestly, the town didn’t look prosperous. Probably true of most of the small county seats we’ll be visiting.