|
Brewster County
Courthouse
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark.
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, April 2002 |
| The
Brewster County Courthouse in Alpine
is the only one they ever had (like neighboring Marfa).
It was built in 1877, by an architect who has since been forgotten.
It comes with a matching
jail and there's even a traditional piece of artillery on its
east lawn. |
Historical
Marker:
Brewster County
Courthouse
Courthouse building
erected in 1887 when Brewster
County was created. Served Buchel and Foley County until these
areas were added to Brewster
County. Courthouse Square still is community center for various
events.
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark. 1965. |
Another view
of the Brewster County Courthouse
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, April 2002 |
A
letter from Tommy R. Woodward, former Alpine resident and West Texas
Historian:
COURTHOUSE IN ALPINE COMPLETED IN 1887 BUT NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHO
BUILT IT.
No one seems to know who built the courthouse in Alpine.
In 1940 when The Avalanche issued its 50th anniversary edition, an
effort was made to find out who did the work, but no body knew. The
report, given then, is all that is known today-unless somebody is
keeping secrets.
On March 14, 1887, soon after Brewster County was organized, the commissioners
ordered that architects be contacted by letter to discuss plans for
a courthouse and jail, the former to cost no more than $12,000 to
$15,000, and the jail to cost no more than $12,000.
A little later bonds were voted in the sum of $28,000, and either
that amount or $27,000 was expended for the two buildings - the courthouse
and jail both stand today, giving good service.
Two or three men got the contract for the buildings, but all the scurrying
around that has been possible for one newsman in a comparatively limited
time has failed to unearth the names of the contractors. Even the
dependables for old-time information - Judge Van Sickle, Mrs. Walter
Garnett or Mrs. J. C. Bird could not recall. |
 |
Brewster County
Courthouse as it appeared in 1939
Photo
courtesy TXDoT |
Brewster County
Courthouse
Postcard
courtesy rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/ |
BRICKS
MADE HERE
However, it is said that the contractors burned their
own bricks for the building, or had a man to do the work. They were
burned in kilns near Ranger canyon, and the name of Harry Dryden kept
bobbing up in connection with the job. Still, it is not certain, so
far as could be discovered, that Mr. Dryden ran the kiln. He did burn
bricks later, if not then, and it said the rear part, at least, of
the building on 5th Street, now occupied by the Stephenson laundry,
which housed the post office until four or five years ago was built
of Dryden brick.
Mrs. J. C. Bird recalled distinctly however, and so did her nephew,
James W. Walker, that J.C. Bird burned the lime that made the mortar
that held the bricks together. This was done also, it is understood,
somewhere near Ranger canyon, west of town.
The courthouse was finished probably in November 1887, and throughout
its construction the county commissioners met every few days, or at
least quite often as is shown by their minutes, but not a word could
be found in regard to the contractors, nor anything else relative
to the construction. |
(Copied
from the Alpine Avalanche 60th Anniversary, dated September
14, 1951)
Also see: Woodward, Tommy R., "J. C. Bird: A Big Bend Pioneer."
The Journal of Big Bend Studies, Volume V, Alpine, Texas:
Sul Ross State University Press, January 1993, 15-36.
Final note: Mrs. J. C. Bird, above mentioned, was my Great
Aunt. - Tommy R. Woodward, Midland, November 2, 2001
Our
sincere thanks to Mr. Woodward for his contribution.
|
| A freak ice-storm
severely damaged the pecan trees in September, 2000 |
The
Brewster County Courthouse rear view
TE Photo, 2000 |
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