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LIMESTONE
COUNTY COURTHOUSE
County Seat - Groesbeck,
Texas Limestone
County has had 5 courthouses:
1847 - County seat - Springfield
1856
1878 - County seat - Groesbeck
1892
1924
|
Limestone
County courthouse
Texas Historic Landmark
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, February, 2009 |
The
Present Limestone County Courthouse - Groesbeck,
Texas
Date - 1924
Architect - R.H. Stuckey of Midwest Engineering Company
Style
- Classical Revival
Texas Historic Landmark
The formidable 1924 Limestone
County Courthouse was built of brick, concrete, marble and tile (you were expecting
limestone?) The impressive courthouse is unusual in that there are practically
no buildings facing it. Groesbeck has no "Courthouse Square" per se.
Originally
the settlement of Springfield (five miles north of town on Hwy 14) was the county
seat. It had to be - for years it was the only town in the county. It died shortly
after the Houston and Texas Central railroad came through and bypassed the town
in favor of Groesbeck.
Today a cemetery alongside the road to Fort
Parker State Park is all that remains of Springfield.
Groesbeck
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| | The
1924 Limestone County Courthouse
TE Photo, 2001 |
The
courthouse historical marker
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, February, 2009 |
Historical
Marker TextLimestone
County CourthouseLimestone
County was established in 1846. Springfield served as the first county seat, but
geographic boundary changes and the burning of the Springfield Courthouse led
to the designation of Groesbeck as the county
seat in December 1873. Three more official courthouses served the county before
the early 1920s.
The county employed the midwest engineering company of
Amarillo to draw up plans for
a new structure in 1923. The William Rice Construction Company, also of Amarillo,
received a contract for $300,000 to erect this structure. Rice had been the contractor
for both the Lipscomb
and Lynn
County courthouses.
A fine example of a classical revival building
with beaux arts influences, the 1924 Limestone County Courthouse is a variation
on the most common themes of early 20th century courthouses. Then-modern construction
methods, such as reinforced concrete structural systems covered in brick and terra
cotta, were employed. The elevations -- classical columns flanking the windows,
upper floors adorned with balustrades and elaborate cornucopia moldings -- indicate
that the edifice is intended to be viewed from all sides.
The Limestone
County Courthouse functions as the heart of Limestone County and it continues
to be used for daily county governmental business.
Recorded
Texas Historic Landmark - 1998 |
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The
courthouse as it appeared in 1939
Photo courtesy TXDoT |
Detail
of the north side entrance
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, February, 2009 |
Cornucopia
molding decorates each corner of the courthouse roof.
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, February, 2009 |
Courthouse
bell at the north side entrance
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, February, 2009 |
Photographer's
Note:
Courthouse
Bell
"This bell at the north side entrance was manufactured by the
Buckeye Bell Foundry in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1908 and placed in the clock tower
of the old 1878 Limestone County courthouse. When the current courthouse was built,
it was given to the Blake Smith family who donated it back to the county in 2002."
- Terry
Jeanson, February, 2009 |
| One
of the decorative molded capitals on top of the pilasters inside the courthouse.
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, February, 2009 |
| Detail
on one of the folding chairs in the courtroom gallery. Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, 2009 |
| One
of the two district courtrooms which occupy the east and west wings of the courthouse
on the upper floors. This is the courtroom in the east wing. Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, February, 2009 |
| Balcony
in the east wing courtroom. The upper balconies in both courtrooms are still intact.
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, February, 2009 |
The 1892 Limestone
County Courthouse
1914 Photo courtesy texasoldphotos.com |
The
cornerstone of the 1891-92 Limestone County courthouse
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, February, 2009 |
Photographer's
Note:
Courthouse
Cornerstone
"The cornerstone of the 1891-92 Limestone County courthouse
sits by the west side entrance. The plaque on top says "Original Cornerstone Of
The Limestone County Courthouse Built In 1891." The architect's name listed on
the cornerstone is Albert Ullrich." - Terry
Jeanson, February, 2009
Groesbeck
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