|
| The
"new" Potter County Courthouse (Potter County Courts Building.)
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, 2008 |
The
Present Potter County Courthouse
"This modern-style,
concrete and steel building was built between 1984 and 1986 and designed
by architects Hucker & Pargé, A.I.A. and Ward-Brown Associates, A.I.A."
- Terry
Jeanson
Robert Potter was a Secretary of the Texas Navy and was Commander
in charge of Galveston.
The Spanish gave Amarillo its name,
by naming a nearby creek for the Spanish word for yellow. |
1932 Potter
County Courthouse
|
Date: 1932
Architect: W.C. Townes of Townes, Lightfoot and Funk
of Amarillo
Styl: Art Deco
Material: Concrete and terra cotta
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark |
West
side of the 1932 Potter County courthouse facing Taylor Street
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, 2008 |
Historical Marker
- 501 South Taylor, Amarillo:
Potter County Courthouse
Organized in August 1887, Potter
County erected its first courthouse in 1888 in old town Amarillo.
The building was constructed by Mays, Hightower, and Jackson for a
cost of $191. Over the years, three more courthouses were built as
Amarillo and Potter
County grew. During the 1920's the Panhandle
experienced an oil boom. As a result, business increased, the population
of Amarillo nearly tripled, and eight
sky scrapers were added
to the city.
The fifth courthouse in Potter
County, this building was designed by Architect W.C. Townes of
Townes, Lightfoot and Funk of Amarillo.
It was constructed at a cost of $420,000 in 1930-32 by Amarillo
builder Charles Lambie. More than 500 laborers, residents of Potter
County, applied to work on building the new courthouse.
The Potter County Courthouse is a fine local example of an art deco
style institutional building. It exhibits stepped massing from its
entrance pavilion to the top of the tower, and skillful use of details
that include ornamental figural and botanical bas relief, symmetrical
pilasters and metal casement windows.
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1996 |
 |
The
east side of the courthouse facing Fillmore Street.
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, 2008 |
"Blooming
Cactus" over the Potter County Courthouse entrance
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, 2008 |
"The
top of the central section on the north side depicts the heads of
wolves, also duplicated on the south side. The windows with the bars
denotes the location of the former county jail which was in use until
1988."
- Terry
Jeanson, 2008 photo |
"The
top of the central section on the west side depicts a pioneer, two
baying wolves and an Indian. These figures are duplicated on the east
side as well."
- Terry
Jeanson, 2008 photo |
"The
west and east side (show here) entrances have Art-Deco style chandeliers
and cast-aluminum Longhorns over the doors."
- Terry
Jeanson, 2008 photo |
1932
Potter County Courthouse Entrance
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, 2008 |
Photographer's
Note:
The west and east side (shown here) entrances have three panels over
the doors with a written dedication. The middle panel reads, "To the
Early Settlers of This County, This Building is Respectfully Dedicated."
The left panel reads, "Their Efforts were Tireless," and the right
panel reads "Their Courage was Undaunted."
- Terry
Jeanson, 2008 |
Potter
County Courthouse as it appear in 1939
Photo courtesy TXDoT |
| Postcard
courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/ |
|
|
Postmaster tells
Chicago Doctor about Amarillo's Courthouse Change:
"This building has been replaced by a new and very modern eight
story courthouse." - (signed) Postmaster, Amarillo, Texas
Another view of the 1932 Potter County Courthouse
TE postcard archive |
|
|
1906 Potter
County Courthouse
|
1906 Potter County
Courthouse
Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/ |
1906 Potter County
Courthouse
Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/ |
1906 Potter County
courthouse (left)
and the 1922 Potter County library (right)
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, 2008 |
|
Photographer's
Note:
"This photo of the 1906 Potter County courthouse (left) and
the 1922 Potter County library (right) was taken in 1924 and is
hanging in the first floor hallway of the 1932 courthouse. In 1915,
the dome on the 1906 courthouse was removed and a fourth floor was
added. The clocks from the removed dome were placed in the middle
part of the roof on the sides of the building as seen in this picture."
- Terry
Jeanson, March 2008
|
1896 Potter
County Courthouse
|
Photographer's
Note:
This drawing of the 1896 Potter County courthouse is hanging in the
first floor hallway of the 1932
courthouse.
The caption below the drawing reads as follows:
This building is courthouse number three (3.) It was built in 1896
and is located at 5th and Bowie. It still stands today. The tower
and third floor have been removed and the building has been used by
the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles in the past. - Terry
Jeanson, March 2008
Amarillo
Hotels › Book Hotel Here |
|
|
HOME
