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1979
Collin County Courthouse in McKinney
Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, June 2007 |
The Present
Collin County Courthouse - McKinney, Texas
Date - 1979
Architect - Jarvis Putty Jarvis, Inc. & Harvey G. Moore, Associate
Material - Steel, brick and concrete.
Style - modern
The present Collin County courthouse sits a couple of blocks south
of the old
courthouse. |
The Former
Collin County Courthouse - McKinney, Texas
Date - 1874
Architect - Charles Wheelock
Style - Second empire
Material - Brick and stone
Remodeled 1927
W. A. Peters (Sparger and Peters)
Style - Neoclassical Revival Style
"The 1874 Collin County courthouse on the square was restored
to its 1927 condition in 2006. It now serves as the McKinney
Performing Arts Center." - Terry
Jeanson |
The
1874/1927 Collin County Courthouse Cornerstone
Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, June 2007 |
| The
1874 Collin County Courthouse after the 1927 remodeling to Neoclassical
Revival Style. Photo courtesy texasoldphotos.com |
Another
view of the remodeled Collin County Courthouse in McKinney
Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/ |
The
Old Collin County Courthouse as it appeared in 1939
Photo courtesy TxDoT |
The
1874 Collin County Courthouse as it appeared in 1908
Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/ |
Another
view of the 1874 Second Empire Style Collin County Courthouse
Postcard circa 1908, courtesy THC |
| Photographer's
Note: The signs below were uncovered when the original paint was
restored in the basement of the Old Collin County courthouse. The
text on the plaque beneath both signs is the same. - Terry
Jeanson, June 2007 |
| Photo
courtesy Terry Jeanson, June 2007 |
| Photo
courtesy Terry Jeanson, June 2007 |
Close
up view of the plaque below the signs.
Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, June 2007 |
Stroll
down the east side of the square. Stop. View for a few minutes the
towers of the courthouse and you will wonder why they are allowed
to remain in their present unsightly condition. The panes in the windows
are broken out; the shutters are torn off and lie in the debris in
the attic, the rain blows in at the openings.
Bats in the belfry? No one can say, but it is known that hundreds
of English sparrows and pigeons find a roosting place in the towers.
If Collin County is not able to build a new Temple of Justice … then
we can at least put in some window-panes and patch up the holes.
On top of all that, the roof leaks, the floors are warped, and county
records are getting soaked. |
| You
would think you were reading a recent report but this came from the
May 5, 1921 edition of the Weekly Democrat-Gazette. The same
could have been said of conditions prior to the start of restoration
and rehabilitation of the Old Collin County Courthouse.... next
page |
Collin County
Forum:
Collin County
Courthouse Wedding
My husband, Steve and I were married in the old [Collin County]
courthouse in 1973. We eloped on the last day before our blood tests
would have to be redone -- really! We've made it 33 years in January...
there was snow on the ground back then and we spent our honeymoon
iced in on Parker Road in a neat A-frame redwood house that we rented
on the creek across from what is now Collin County Community College
Spring Creek Campus... Plano had about 30,000 people then -- I think
they were all on the east side of Central Exprwy. We bought our
rings at Weatherford Jewelers in downtown Plano and our first Christmas
tree at the Wall-Robbins house on Ave. K.
In 1987, I bought a picture of the old courthouse, but it didn't
look anything like when we were married... I learned from your website
photos that it was changed over the years and the painting that
I have (a limited editon by John Pototschnik) is at the turn of
the century -- with snow and all -- even more of a treasure!
I now serve on the Plano Heritage Commission and will work my first
Blackland Prairie Festival this year, dressing in the 1890's costume.
One daughter lives in the Schimelpfenig House on 17th, a beautifully
restored Victorian and my other daughter and grandchildren live
in Frisco,
where my daughter teaches at CCCC; my son will be returning to Plano
this summer after graduation from Texas Tech, so we are in Collin
County for good! The children gave us a surprise 25th anniversary
party and about 80 old friends, new friends and family came to wish
us well. These are some of the most remarkable times of our married
lives since we got married without any gala. I hope to be invited
to the grand-reopening of the old courthouse... it won't be the
same without the Justice of the Peace performing the rites amidst
the ringing phone and papers all over the desk!
Thanks for your work and allowing me to share some good times and
history with you! - Janice Craze Cline, Plano, TX, March 17,
2006
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