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The 1913 Henderson
County courthouse
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, December 2011 |
Henderson County
Courthouse Historical Marker
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, December 2011 |
Historical
Marker:
Henderson
County Courthouse
The Texas Legislature
created Henderson
County in 1846. For the next few years, county commissioners met
at various locations, including private homes and the communities
of Buffalo and
Centerville.
Samuel Huffer later determined the center of the county was on the
Thomas Parmer survey, and Matthew Cartwright secured 160 acres for
the new courthouse. In 1850, the county seat moved to Athens,
which was incorporated in 1856.
County commissioners hired John Loop to construct a log courthouse.
It served as the court building for 11 years. In 1860, William Warenskjold
began construction on a two-story frame courthouse, which burned in
1885, leaving only the district and county clerk buildings standing.
C.H. Hawn & Co. constructed the next courthouse, which was used until
1913. That June, with a design by L.L. Thurmon & Company of Dallas,
the commissioners court approved the bid of L.R. Wright & Company
to build a new courthouse on the square.
Accepted by the court in January 1914, the Henderson County Courthouse
exhibits a Classical Revival design. The building is comprised of
three floors above a basement, and features a central dome and four
three-bay pedimented entries with Tuscan columns. The cross-axial
plan is formed from a central block with single bays projecting from
each corner. Original detailing includes marble stairways and wainscoting
on the interior.
Since becoming the county's public center, the courthouse has been
the location of the "Old Fiddlers" contest and other events. Today,
memorials and tributes to Henderson
County veterans, leaders, residents and history are located on
the square.
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 2002 |
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A different side
of the courthouse, which enables a view of the low central dome. There
is no rotunda on the inside.
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, December 2011 |
Henderson
County Courthouse as it appeared in 1939
Photo courtesy of TXDoT |
Another early
view of the 1913 courthouse
Postcard courtesy THC |
"The district
courtroom, subjected to a modern remodeling. The interior of the courthouse
was refurbished in 1965 and again in 1986."
- Terry
Jeanson, December 2011 photo |
Dedication stone
inside the courthouse.
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, December 2011 |
The courthouse's
dome seen from blocks away.
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, December 2011 |
"This watercolor
painting of the current courthouse by Laura Potter is near the south
entrance."
- Terry
Jeanson, December 2011 photo |
The decoration
on the pediments are repeated on all sides
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, December 2011 |
The courthouse
square
"A Busy Day in Athens, Texas"
Click on image to enlarge
Photo courtesy Danny Whatley |
The
courthouse square in Athens, showing
the 1887 courthouse
Vintage photo ca. 1911 courtesy THC |
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