|
The present Washington
County Courthouse
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark
1940 Photo courtesy TXDoT |
Historical marker
at north side entrance.
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, 2009 |
WASHINGTON
COUNTY COURTHOUSE
Built in 1940 with funds granted by the Public Works Administration.
This is the fourth courthouse to serve Washington
County since its formation in 1835. Constructed during the tenure
of County Judge Sam Low, the massive white limestone courthouse was
designed in the art moderne style. Details of that style include the
light fixtures and cast aluminum eagles at the entries. The building
stands as a symbol of Washington
County government.
Recorded Texas Historic
Landmark - 1985 |
Washington County
courthouse eagle
TE Photo, 2002 |
The west side
entrance with Art-Deco grill work above the doors.
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, December 2007 |
"The spacious,
centrally located, third floor district courtroom retains its original
configuration, never having had a dropped ceiling installed."
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, April 2009 |
"Collage
of courtroom details showing metal ceiling trim (top) that runs the
perimeter of the courtroom and wood carvings (bottom) that are over
the judge's bench."
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, April 2009 |
"At north
side entrance looking south. The pictures on the wall on the right
side of this photo are of previous Washington County courthouses.
(Scroll down to see photos.)"
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, April 2009 |
Dedication plaque
for the current courthouse.
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, April 2009 |
Fifth Washington
County Courthouse
1884-1939
|
Photo of the
1884 Washington County courthouse on display
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, 2009 |
Transcription
from photo below:
"The fifth Washington County Courthouse, the third
located in Brenham, was made of bricks
shipped from Houston.
The sand for the mortar came from Sandy Creek which flowed through
Fireman's Park. The building was designed by *L.N. Preston and Son,
Architects and cost $65,000. The great
Galveston Hurricane destroyed the roof of the courthouse in 1900.
The roof was repaired and the building served the county well until
it was replaced by the current courthouse in 1939."
*Note - the architects name is a misprint. It should be J.N. Preston
and Son, who also designed the similar looking Bell
County courthouse in 1884. (Source: Southwestern Historical
Quarterly 110.1 (2006) vii, 1-37 - "A Name on the Cornerstone:
The Landmark Texas Architecture of Jasper Newton Preston" by Bob Brinkman
and Dan K. Utley.)" |
"The text
and photo provided by the Brenham Heritage Museum."
Photo
courtesy Terry
Jeanson, 2009 |
The 1884 Washington
County courthouse
Postcard courtesy THC |
| Photo
courtesy texasoldphotos.com |
Fourth Washington
County Courthouse
1855-1883
|
|
Photo of the
1855 Washington County courthouse on display
Photo
courtesy Terry
Jeanson, 2009
|
Transcription
from photo below:
"The fourth Washington County Courthouse, the
second located in Brenham, was a two-story
building constructed of Brenham-manufactured
bricks. The contractor for the construction of the building was Mr.
John Stamps. It was at this courthouse that a county meeting was held
on December 17, 1860 to decide the issue of secession from the Union.
The meeting voted to support immediate secession." |
"The text
and photo provided by the Brenham Heritage Museum."
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, 2009 |
First Three
Washington County Courthouses
1836-1855
|
| Transcription
from photo below:
"The county
of Washington, one of the oldest and most historic in the state,
was created March 17, 1836, and organized December 14, 1837. The
first county seat was located at Washington-on-the-Brazos,
the site of the signing of the Texas Declaration of Independence
in 1836. A one-room log cabin served as the seat of justice until
1841 when the county seat was moved to Mount
Vernon.
In September 1841, the county seat was moved to Mount
Vernon, located in the northwest part of the county. A log courthouse
served as the seat of county government with court often being held
outside under a large oak tree on warm summer days.
In 1844, an
election was held to move the county seat to a more central location.
Towns in the running included Independence,
Turkey Creek, Mount
Vernon and Brenham. Brenham
won the election and a public square was laid out. A small log house
on the northeast side of the townsite was home to important government
papers prior to construction of a courthouse building in Brenham.
A two-story cedar building was built in 1844 on the site of the
present-day
courthouse.
It soon proved to be inadequate for the needs of county officials
and a brick,
two-story courthouse was completed in 1855
at a cost of $8,700. A tin roof was added for $75. Architects for
the project were Joe Tom, Joe Miller and Hugh Sherrald.
No known drawings or photographs are available of the first three
Washington County Courthouses."
|
 |
"The text
and photo was provided by the Brenham Heritage Museum."
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, 2009 |
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