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The
present Washington County Courthouse
Recorded
Texas Historic Landmark
1940
Photo courtesy TXDoT |
Historical
marker at north side entrance.
Photo
courtesy Terry
Jeanson, 2009 |
WASHINGTON COUNTY
COURTHOUSE
Built in 1940 with funds granted by the Public Works Administration.
This is the fourth courthouse to serve Washington County since its formation in
1835. Constructed during the tenure of County Judge Sam Low, the massive white
limestone courthouse was designed in the art moderne style. Details of that style
include the light fixtures and cast aluminum eagles at the entries. The building
stands as a symbol of Washington County government.
Recorded Texas Historic
Landmark - 1985 |
Washington
County courthouse eagle
TE Photo, 2002 |
The
west side entrance with Art-Deco grill work above the doors.
Photo
courtesy Terry
Jeanson, December 2007 |
"The
spacious, centrally located, third floor district courtroom retains its original
configuration, never having had a dropped ceiling installed."
Photo
courtesy Terry
Jeanson, April 2009 |
"Collage
of courtroom details showing metal ceiling trim (top) that runs the perimeter
of the courtroom and wood carvings (bottom) that are over the judge's bench."
Photo courtesy
Terry
Jeanson, April 2009 |
"At
north side entrance looking south. The pictures on the wall on the right side
of this photo are of previous Washington County courthouses. (Scroll down to see
photos.)"
Photo
courtesy Terry
Jeanson, April 2009 |
Dedication
plaque for the current courthouse.
Photo
courtesy Terry
Jeanson, April 2009 |
Fifth
Washington County Courthouse
1884-1939 |
Photo
of the 1884 Washington County courthouse on display
Photo
courtesy Terry
Jeanson, 2009 |
Transcription
from photo below:
"The
fifth Washington County Courthouse, the third located in Brenham, was made of
bricks shipped from Houston. The
sand for the mortar came from Sandy Creek which flowed through Fireman's Park.
The building was designed by *L.N. Preston and Son, Architects and cost $65,000.
The great
Galveston Hurricane destroyed the roof of the courthouse in 1900. The roof
was repaired and the building served the county well until it was replaced by
the current courthouse in 1939."
*Note - the architects name is a
misprint. It should be J.N. Preston and Son, who also designed the similar looking
Bell County
courthouse in 1884. (Source: Southwestern Historical Quarterly 110.1
(2006) vii, 1-37 - "A Name on the Cornerstone: The Landmark Texas Architecture
of Jasper Newton Preston" by Bob Brinkman and Dan K. Utley.)" |
"The
text and photo provided by the Brenham Heritage Museum."
Photo
courtesy Terry
Jeanson, 2009 |
The
1884 Washington County courthouse
Postcard
courtesy THC |
| Photo
courtesy texasoldphotos.com |
Fourth
Washington County Courthouse
1855-1883 |
Photo
of the 1855 Washington County courthouse on display
Photo
courtesy Terry
Jeanson, 2009 |
Transcription
from photo below:
"The
fourth Washington County Courthouse, the second located in Brenham,
was a two-story building constructed of Brenham-manufactured
bricks. The contractor for the construction of the building was Mr. John Stamps.
It was at this courthouse that a county meeting was held on December 17, 1860
to decide the issue of secession from the Union. The meeting voted to support
immediate secession." |
"The
text and photo provided by the Brenham Heritage Museum."
Photo
courtesy Terry
Jeanson, 2009 |
First
Three Washington County Courthouses
1836-1855 |
| Transcription
from photo below: "The
county of Washington, one of the oldest and most historic in the state, was created
March 17, 1836, and organized December 14, 1837. The first county seat was located
at Washington-on-the-Brazos,
the site of the signing of the Texas Declaration of Independence in 1836. A one-room
log cabin served as the seat of justice until 1841 when the county seat was moved
to Mount Vernon.
In September 1841, the county seat was moved to Mount
Vernon, located in the northwest part of the county. A log courthouse served
as the seat of county government with court often being held outside under a large
oak tree on warm summer days.
In
1844, an election was held to move the county seat to a more central location.
Towns in the running included Independence,
Turkey Creek, Mount
Vernon and Brenham. Brenham
won the election and a public square was laid out. A small log house on the northeast
side of the townsite was home to important government papers prior to construction
of a courthouse building in Brenham. A two-story
cedar building was built in 1844 on the site of the present-day
courthouse.
It soon proved to be inadequate for the needs of county
officials and a brick,
two-story courthouse was completed in 1855
at a cost of $8,700. A tin roof was added for $75. Architects for the project
were Joe Tom, Joe Miller and Hugh Sherrald.
No known drawings or photographs
are available of the first three Washington County Courthouses."
|
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"The
text and photo was provided by the Brenham Heritage Museum."
Photo
courtesy Terry
Jeanson, 2009 | |
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