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The
1919 Refugio County Courthouse
obscured by the trees.
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, January 2005 |
Refugio County
Courthouse as it appeared in 1939
Photo courtesy TXDoT |
Photographer's
Note:
"The 1919 Refugio County courthouse:
The north and south side additions built in the early 1950s have greatly
altered the appearance (and appeal) of the original building."
- Terry
Jeanson
There have been 5 courthouses for Refugio
County. The 1880 courthouse was supposedly burned by county employees
when the commissioners refused to build a new one. See historical
marker below: |
Refugio
County Courthouses historical marker
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, January 2005 |
Historical
Marker Text
Refugio County
Courthouses
The county and
city of Refugio are named after the
Spanish Mission De Nuestra Seņora Del Refugio (the Mission of our
Lady of Refuge) established here in 1795. The Spanish mission building
served as Refugio County's courthouse at various times form 1837 to
1848.
Construction of a permanent county courthouse began about 1850 here
on the town's central plaza, dedicated for municipal buildings when
Refugio was a Mexican pueblo (1821-1836).
The one-story courthouse, made from shell concrete and cypress lumber,
was enlarged to a two-story structure in the late 1850s. A new courthouse,
built in the mid-1870s, burned in 1879 and was replaced with a new
structure in the late 1850s. A new courthouse, built in the mid-1870s,
burned in 1879 and was replaced with a new structure in 1880. The
fifth Refugio County courthouse, designed by San
Antonio architect Atlee
B. Ayres and built by local contractor W.H. Borglud, was completed
at this site in December 1917.
In the 1920s oil and natural gas were discovered in significant quantities
throughout Refugio
County. The burgeoning oil and gas industries led to an increase
in population and business activity in the county, and in the 1950s
the county courthouse was expanded with the addition of north and
south wings. Refugio County courthouse continues its traditional role
as the county's governmental and judical center.
Sesquicentennial of Texas Statehood 1845-1995 |
 |
Refugio
County Courthouse entrance
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, January 2005 |
"This vintage
picture of the courthouse in its original condition is hanging in
the foyer at the front entrance."
- Terry
Jeanson, , August 08, 2008 |
Old postcard
view of the 1911 Refugio County Courthouse
Courtesy rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/ |
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