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Anderson
County Courthouse
County
Seat - Palestine, TexasAnderson
County has had four courthouses: 1847, 1856, 1886 and 1914 |
The
1914 Anderson County Courthouse today
Photo courtesy Lori
Martin, December 2005 |
The 1914 Anderson County Courthouse - Palestine,
Texas The
Courthouse is an imposing 1914 structure in the Renaissance Revival Style; somewhat
unusual is the choice of brick over stone.
Architect: C. H. Page & Brothers
W.C.
Dodson, one of the more famous and prolific courthouse architects of the age,
designed the former (1886) Courthouse. His building was not razed, but fell to
arson. |
Anderson
County Courthouse as it appeared in 1939
Photo courtesy TXDoT |
Anderson
County Courthouse dome
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, February 2006 |
Anderson County Courthouse
DomePhotographer's
Note:
Of
all the courthouses I've photographed, I've been inside 98% of them. ...I try
to find interesting things on the inside to photograph, but some of them are just
plain boring. I see why people don't go inside, especially if time is their major
concern, but I would have missed so many interesting things if I hadn't.
The
Anderson County courthouse in Palestine is a
good example. There is an amazing spiral staircase in the center of the building
with a beautiful stained glass skylight at the bottom of the dome. (See "Dome"
photo above) The district courtroom, while modern, has a delicately painted mural
at the rear of the two story room and the outside hall is covered with the personal
collection of Judge Bascom Bentley, including historical photos, autographs of
celebrities and politicians, newspaper clippings and photos of the Judge posing
with state and local politicans, community leaders and sports teams. The courthouses
with these things on the inside have proven to be some of my favorites even if
they weren't so hot on the outside. - Terry
Jeanson, San Antonio, Texas, May 24, 2006 |
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Anderson
County courthouse district courtroom
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, February 2006 |
| "A
mural on the rear wall of the courtroom depicts people and places in Texas history."
- Terry
Jeanson, February 2006 photo |
| "A
topographical map of Texas along with the state's abundant wildlife has been painted
on the floor at the bottom of the spiral staircase." - Terry
Jeanson, February 2006 photo |
| "The
courthouse's central dome with statue of Themis. The architects, C.H. Page and
Brother, used the same statue for their courthouses
in Fort Bend and Hays
counties." - Terry
Jeanson, February 2006 photo |
Anderson
County courthouse entrance
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, February 2006 |
Another
view of the Anderson County Courthouse
TE Photo, 2002 |
Anderson
County courthouse historical marker.
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, February 2006 | |
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