Texas County Courthouses

Today, we’re going to stay closer to the trailer.  Scheduled are 2 courthouses – Calhoun County and Victoria County.  As I mentioned on an earlier post – lots of farming and oil/gas in this area – and the drive from Victoria to Port Lavaca highlights both of those.

Jackson County Courthouse, Texas

Port Lavaca wasn’t that nice of a town.  The downtown area is a bit seedy, though there are some historical buildings there.  No great old neighborhoods, etc. – at least from what we saw.  It is, however, a bustling town.  Oil & gas causes a lot of activity – and it is an active shrimping and deep sea fishing port.  The high school here is the Calhoun County High School – nicknamed the Sandcrabs.  They once had a tremendous loosing streak in football, but that was quite awhile ago, and they’ve been winning quite a few in more recent times.

The courthouse is very modern.  We did speak to someone who worked in the courthouse, and he told us this building was built to replace an earlier courthouse, whose foundation was sinking so much that many doors failed to open/close and at times, windows had to be used to get in and out.  He also told us, though this is a modern building – it was recently remodeled due to mold.  In doing the remodeling, they gave the interior a good feel.  It has barrel ceilings and a couple of very old telephone booths.  Outside – not much really – but it does have a grand glass entrance with some colored-glass highlights.

Victoria County Courthouse, Texas

The best of the trip may well be the last courthouse we visited – Victoria County.  Romanesque in style, it had tons and tons of architectural highlights.  And the district court room was totally restored along with the rest of this beauty.  Victoria itself, is worth a visit.  They have a historical trail that highlights the breath of this city’s history.  The jail behind the courthouse was built in the 1940’s and had art deco highlights.

While taking pictures, I began talking to couple of ladies sitting outside the courthouse.  I remember one was from Uvalde – and had the twang to back it up.  Of course, she quickly recognized that my own accent identified me as being a transplant.  A gentleman joined us and we had a general discussion about courthouses.  His complaint about the Victoria County Courthouse was the fact that plant growth around its base wasn’t kept trimmed – hiding a lot of the base from view.  He was introduced as Judge Gilliam – Victoria County District Judge, who recommended a stop in the courtroom – with its’ stained glass windows.   We did just that, and it was worth the visit.  We also challenged by the door guards to find the frown on the hall walls.  The walls have a decorative style that uses something akin to a smile – but one of these was reversed to create a frown.  We found it – but not without a hint that it was on the second floor.

We’ve decided to stay one more day – just to relax and maybe take one of the historical driving tours here in Victoria.

Today, we got started a little later than we had hoped, and the heat started earlier.  With the rain the previous night, humidity was added into the mix.  We had Dewitt, Goliad and Bee Counties on the schedule.  In the end, we dropped Bee County hoping we would get back there on another trip.  We had lunch in Goliad – at the Hanging Tree Restaurant – situated directly across from the courthouse, with the famed ‘hanging tree’ in full view.

Dewitt County Courthouse, Texas

The first stop was Cuero.  Cuero is a good-looking town about 25 miles north of Victoria.  It’s best know for being the Turkey Capital of Texas.  Don’t know if they have so many turkeys around these days, but there was a time when they ‘herded’ flocks of turkeys down the streets of Cuero.

The courthouse is a beauty – romanesque revival in style.  There will be more pictures and information later – but the thumb to the left gives you a little taste.

It was interesting – this town has a very historic downtown and business area, but the courthouse is not the center of it all.  It sits a block or two off those areas.  Pretty town with lots of historical character.

Goliad County Courthouse, Texas

The second, and last courthouse for today was Goliad County.  This is truly a second empire-styled gem.  Lots of towers, mansard roof and all the iron work on the roof – so typical of that 1800’s style.  The town square had lots of character and this building makes the scene complete.  Don’t miss Goliad, if ever on a trip to this area.  There are a couple of historical spots that command attention – LaBahia and a complete mission.  This town is old and proud of it.

We arrived a little later than I had hoped – but since we were going to see courthouses that were more ‘modern’ in style, I didn’t feel that we needed to go inside the courthouses we would visit today.  I’ve got to say – it was hot, and this was going to be the way it was all week – if not for the rest of the summer.  Anyhow, we took off looking for some modern courthouses along the Texas Gulf.

One of the courthouses is pictured above – the Wharton County Courthouse.  It was originally a Second Empire jewel, but had been subject to several ‘remodelings’ until it had lost its’ tower, its’ mansard roof and all character.  It had been stuccoed over leaving the building pictured – almost modern looking, in its’ place.

Well, we were running late – as I stated, and we arrived at the Wharton County Courthouse at 4:55 only to see this wonderful second empire styled courthouse.  We quickly rushed inside to get pictures and barely beat the clock – as they were getting ready to lock up.  What a surprise.  More later later – but here’s the renovated courthouse:

What a difference.  I hope this rendition stays around for awhile.

Before we got to Wharton, we stopped in Edna to photograph the Jackson County Courthouse, Texas.  This was a modern building – well-kept and neat lines.  But none of the character of the older courthouses.  I recall a couple of courthouses that we had earlier photograph and described them as ‘early’ motel.  Well this courthouse reminded me of a school from the same time period.  Maybe you recognize you elementary or junior high school in this picture.

Matagorda County Courthouse, Texas

The last courthouse for the day was Matagorda County in Bay City.  This courthouse is truly ‘modern’ in style and is a good representative of that time period.  But when you visit, you are taken in by the historical buildings and old-time town square feeling in Bay City that just falls flat by this edifice chosen to grace the center of the town square.  I really haven’t looked into why they lost the old courthouse – there may be some really great reason – like fire or hurricane, but the town lost a whole lot of character with this edition of its county seat of government and justice.

That concluded the day.  Again – hot, hot, hot.  You’d think we would get used to it, but I think age makes it more difficult, just my opinion.  The landscape is flat in this part of the state.  – I mean FLAT!  It is know as the coastal plains.  Lots of farming, oil & gas and farming (did I say that twice?).  Anyhow – you see little else but miles and miles of crops – sorghum, cotton, rice. corn, etc.

During the night we were hit by a fairly large thunderstorm.  Luckily it dissapated a little, and the tornados and hail didn’t reach us.  One thing we did get out of that was the fact that the trailer has a weather warning system.  It automatically turns on the radio and the warnings blast through the trailer – in this instance at 3:30 am.  Good to know, as you don’t want to be in a trailer during a truly violent storm.

I just didn’t get around to blogging yesterday – and even today, it’s late and I’ll probably get into much more detail tomorrow – but I thought I should put something out there to keep the site current.

btw – I’m sure everyone noted – I’ve completed all tables listing all 254 counties that will have their own photo galleries when we’re done.

We made some decisions about what we’ll be seeing this trip.  First, we dropped Lavaca County (Halletsville).  It was far off, and we remembered we’ve already photographed it outside.  Probably wasn’t worth special trip just for interior views.  We’ll stop there another day.  Also – we dropped Bee County.  That decision was a little harder.  I really do want to go back – it is a beaux arts gem, that was being renovated when we first photographed it.  It was just too hot and being on the road can take it out of you in the heat.

We did stop in Refugio, but after seeing, we both remembered we’d already taken it in.

We did do Jackson, Wharton, Matagorda, Dewitt, Goliad, Calhoun and Victoria counties.  I’ll post details and a tease picture for each tomorrow.

Until then…..

What a great start yesterday.  I told you about the great surprise awaiting us in Wharton County – see for yourself

http://www.texasescapes.com/TOWNS/Wharton/Wharton-County-Courthouse-Texas.htm

Texas Excapes provides a great historical overview of the Wharton County Courthouse and it’s beginning, remodeling and restoration.

Today – not sure where we’ll be headed.  We’ve got Victoria, Calhoun, Lavaca, Goliad and DeWitt counties (and maybe Bee as a return).  Be back later.

Well, we took off a little later than I wanted – but we finally got here about 2:00 this afternoon.  We’re staying in the Lazy Longhorn RV – and at first look, it seems like a clean park with lots of amenities.  I’ll check around tomorrow.  It is HOT – and HUMID.  So we we’re pretty worn out after setting up.  But we pressed on and took the road, after a lite lunch at Sonic.  We got to Jackson County, Wharton County and Matagorda County.  All in all, they were each different and each having some redeeming points.

But the real surprise for the day was Wharton County.  According to everything I’ve seen, the Wharton County Courthouse was an older courthouse from the late 1800’s or early 1900’s.  It had been remodeled a few times, winding up removing the tower, the mansard roof and all of the architectural highlights that make up a second empire styled building.  After that, the courthouse was wrapped up and enclosed and then covered with stucco.  Maybe interesting, but not anything to do with the original.

Well, it seems that starting in 2004 the courthouse began a huge restoration project.  It was completed in 2007, and it is stunning.  The clock tower is beautiful, the brickwork is intriguing, the roof and iron work is typical of second empire buildings.  We were not expecting this at all.  So it was a pleasant surprise.    On top of that, assuming that the 3 courthouses were visiting this afternoon were not really that interesting, we didn’t worry about it being late and not getting in.   We rolled up at 4:56 – saw this second empire gem and quickly grabbed our cameras and went inside.  Not that inspiring – but worth the look.   We were given just a few minutes to take some interior pictures.

Jackson County Courthouse looked something like a school from the 60’s.  It had rough cut rock stone that was visible inside and outside.  There was a clock upfront and overall it was pleasant.

Matagorda County’s Courthouse was built in the 60’s and shows some of the popular styling from that time.  The building has posts and is built up on the first floor.  While it has its redeeming points as a good example of the modern style, it just doesn’t fit the square – which is surrounded by turn of the century buildings.  I’m not sure what happened to the previous courthouse, but the town lost some heart when the center of this historical town was filled with concrete, steel and glass.

Tomorrow will bring something new.  Of the 6 courthouses left – only one is modern.  The rest are from the late 1800’s or early 1900’s.  I’ll be back tomorrow.  Maybe I’ll be able to post a picture or two with tomorrow’s blog.

I’ve just added 3 more counties – in the ‘D’ list – Dawson, Dimmit, and Duval County.  None of them shine too particularly, but the pictured courthouse here is Duval County.  What it lacks in style, it sure makes up in historical significance.  For it’s was here, may years back, that Lydon won his ‘landslide’ victory in his quest to become a U. S. Representative.  There are still many tales about how Duval County, which was controlled by a political boss, ‘found’ enough votes not counted to Lyndon B. Johnson to claim the victory.  There’s a lot to that story, believe me.

btw – I’ve decided, at least for now, that the best way to overcome the previous/next page dilemna is to just to add in the text and link the text.  I need to find a syntax I like, and I’ll use that throughout – manually!  Also, I  started creating my Architecture page and went looking for sources to help explain some of the various styles used in Texas Courthouses when I stumbled on a great website that already had much of that information.  If you go to the Architecture page, I have a link there as well as in the Blogroll.  I still intend on listing the more productive architects and examples of their work on the Architecture page.

Now, I know there are hundreds – if not thousands, of you following this blog wondering when we would go ‘live’.  Well, that will be this week, so tune back in.  I’ll share the travels and courthouse visits with all of you – and provide any impressions I may have on the way.  Until then…..

I’ve added Dallas County today.  I,m using ‘Big Red’ as the courthouse, though there’s a much more modern building that now serves that function.  Great gargoyles!

I’ve also updated some of the tables for the lists of counties.  Hope to get that finished this weekend.  But the next/previos issue is still sitting on the back burner.

On another front – the first ‘live’ blog will be coming soon.  That means I hope to blog the same day we photograph the courthouses.  Actually uploading photos may have to wait until I’m home – bandwidth issues.

I haven’t posted in a few days – so I guess, if I’m truly going to document this process, the I better get something out here.

I’ve change the front page – so that the ‘greeting’ is a sticky note attached to the blog postings.  That way the postings are visible right up front.  I guess that would be more important when I’m traveling.  It would also be nice to see what I’ve added or where we’ve been.

I’ve posted Comal, Cherokee, Colorado and Dallam counties.  I often forget the beauty of some of these edifices.  And posting them brings back memories as to what we were doing when we stopped to photograph them.

We had so many pictures of the Colorado Courthouse, I decided to split them up into interior/exterior.  The interior of the restored courthouse is well worth the visit alone.  Go into the County Court Room and you’ll be blown away by the beautiful stained glass dome that hovers over the county seat of government.  Evidently, it had been covered up for years and when they were restoring the building, it was rediscovered!

What’s really kept me busy -and down 🙁 –  is my desire to upgrade the pages with the tables of counties so that you can go  next/previous from page to page.  It’s driving me bananas!   I’ve decided to let it go for a few days, at least, and see if something doesn’t pop into my head later.

This is a Texas County Courthouse site with a twist – I will be blogging as I update courthouse pages and as we travel to capture new courthouse photos. So feel free to jump in and add comments about the courthouses, about the photos, or about the shared travels.

My name is Tom and this is my first attempt at a blog. I’ve chosen a Texas theme so that I can do three things at once: Travel the entire state of Texas; share my experience; and document the tremendous variety & grandeur that make the collection of Texas County Courthouses. I will be sharing photos, my impressions of each courthouse and any other sights or happenings as we travel. We’ve already visited over 90 of the courthouses – and I will be adding these – a few each week. For each courthouse, I will be providing you the courthouse information including when it was built; who the architect was, the style, and my impressions. I will also be adding extras where encountered – like extant courthouses or old jail houses. So join Clem and me as we travel this great state we call home – Texas.

How to view photographs:  Most of the pages were made with NextGen.  They automatically load a slideshow.  You can also click on the top of the slide show where it says “Show Picture List”.  If you do this, you get a display of the thumbs of the photos – and you can click on any single picture and get an enlargement.  You can also, at this point, decide to click on “View with PicLens”.  If you do this – you get a full screen slide show that you move forward and backward yourself.  Three different ways to enjoy the thousands of Texas photos.

Wander around – there’s more to this site than courthouses(see Other).  But if it courthouses you’re after (and why else would you be here?) – then go to the courthouse collection. Think you need some instructions on how to navigate this site?  Then click here for some guidance.