|
The former Stonewall
County Courthouse on US 380
Photo courtesy texasoldphotos.com |
History in
a Pecan Shell
The man "Captain"
W.E. Rayner later went on to found one of the two settlements that
merged into the present Lubbock,
but in 1888 he was busy organizing a movement to separate Stonewall
from Jones County.
An election in December of 1888 did exactly that.
The town of Rayner was platted in 1889 just after it became the first
county seat of Stonewall
County. Not everyone was happy with the choice and in 1898 there
were two elections to move the county seat of government to Aspermont.
Old
Glory never seemed to be a consideration. The vote of the second
election overwhelmingly favored the more centrally located Aspermont,
which has remained the county seat.
The former rock courthouse from 1888 remains and a historical marker
7 and a half miles east of Aspermont
marks the spot. The former Rayner town cemetery lies south of US Highway
380. |
The 1891 former
Stonewall County Courthouse is now a private residence.
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson May 2002 |
The
1891 former Stonewall County Courthouse
"According
to the Kelsey/Dyal book under the Throckmorton County courthouse page,
the Rayner courthouse was designed by Martin, Byrnes (sic) and Johnston
(sic.) which is similar to the Throckmorton
courthouse. According to the THC, the architect of the Rayner
courthouse was the town's founder, W.E. Rayner. (??)" - Terry
Jeanson
The
present Stonewall County in Aspermont › |
Another view
of the former Stonewall County Courthouse
Photos courtesy Barclay
Gibson May 2002 |
Rayner, Texas
Forum
Rayners of
New Zealand. Just a call of interest. Our branch of the family origated
from Yorkshire England. - John Rayner, Blenheim, New Zealand, 16/Dec/2002
|
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Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and recent/vintage/historic photos, please contact
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