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Cameron County
Courthouse
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, December 2006 |
The Present
Cameron County Courthouse
- Brownsville, Texas
Date - 1978
Architect - SHWC Inc
Style - modern
Material - concrete |
The 1912 Cameron
County Courthouse has been beautifully restored and was rededicated
on October 17, 2006.
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, December 2006 |
Historical Marker
1912 Cameron
County Courthouse
This classically
styled public building has been central for Cameron
County government for nearly a century. Texas and Mexico both
claimed this area after 1836. The Texas Legislature created Cameron
County in 1848, even before the land was officially made part
of Texas and the U.S. by the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.
Named for Scottish-born Ewen Cameron (c. 1811-1843), a soldier killed
during the Mier
Expedition, the county was one of the largest in the state until
additional counties were later carved from its territory. Santa
Rita (5 mi. NW) was the first county seat before voters chose
Brownsville in Dec. 1848. For
a generation there was no formal courthouse, as county officials conducted
business in homes and rented commercial space.
Cameron County
built its first
courthouse in 1882-83 at 1131 E. Jefferson, conducting business
there for thirty years before the Rio Grande Masonic Lodge AF&AM No.
81 bought the building. In October 1911, citizens of the growing county
voted 1058-148 in favor of a new $200,000 courthouse. San
Antonio architect Atlee
B. Ayres (1873-1969) designed this building, as well as a new
county jail at 1201 E. Van Buren, and both county buildings were completed
in 1913. The Classical Revival style rectangular cross axial plan
courthouse is three stories with an elevated basement. The brick exterior
features banded ground floor courses, Corinthian columns and pilasters,
a dome and a classical parapet with terra cotta trim. The interior
is notable for its octagonal rotunda and elaborate art-glass dome.
When the county built a new courthouse in 1981, this site remained
for county offices and was renamed the Dancy Building for Oscar C.
Dancy (1879-1971), who served 48 years as county judge within these
walls from 1921-33 and 1935-71.
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 2000 |
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Another view
of the 1912 Cameron County Courthouse
Photo courtesy Ken Rudine, February 2007 |
1912
Cameron County Courthouse as it appeared in 1939
Photo courtesy TXDoT |
The restored
stained glass rotunda skylight
1912 Cameron County Courthouse
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, December 2006 |
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The
Cameron County Courthouse - still brand new in 1918.
Photo courtesy Jim Gesler, Wyoming, New York |
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The 1882 courthouse
with the clock tower
Postcard circa 1909 courtesy texasoldphotos.com |
Historical
Marker:
Cameron County
Courthouse of 1883-1914
Completed in 1883,
this was the first courthouse built by Cameron
County officials, who previously rented or purchased office space.
This three-story brick structure served as the county courthouse until
1914, when a new building was erected. Rio Grande Lodge No. 81, A.F.&A.M.,
then occupied this structure. The original roof, with its gables and
central tower, was removed during remodeling.
1962 |
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The 1882 Cameron
County Courthouse today.
(Now the Rio Grande Masonic Lodge No. 81.)
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, December 2006
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| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and vintage or recent photos, please contact
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