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Old
Cora, next to the Fleming Oak
Photo courtesy Taylor Lang |
The
1936 Texas Centennial Marker near the city of Comanche
says the county was thus named for those raiding warriors of the Plains
because of their "superb horseman[ship]" and courage, as well as being
"the terror of Texas frontier settlers who dispossessed them of their
hunting grounds." With that in mind, Bison Bill and I were carefully
carried to the county's 1856 courthouse, umbrella shielding our fur
and feathers, as we looked in awe at a structure that has withstood
time and the elements, as well as the best intentions of man.
Although the citizens of Comanche County, created on January 25, 1856,
had chosen the name of Troy for their county seat, they were affronted
since there already was such a town in Texas. Local land agent Thomas
Frost submitted several other names to the Postal Department, with
the name "Cora" winning out. Cora was the name of the eldest daughter
of Major Alonzo Beeman of Moffatt, Bell County, who must have been
a good friend of Frost's at the time. Thus the county seat became
Cora.
The 1856 split-log, one-roomed courthouse served as a post office
(Frost was its postmaster) as well as district court. One of its early
trials concerned three men, Asa Reed, Jesse Reed, and John Taylor,
who were accused of murder. Folks from all around attended the trial
wherein it was found that Asa was innocent because Jesse had done
it. Justice could not be served, however, because Jesse skipped town
and was never seen again. (Or maybe justice was served.) |
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The
Fleming Oak in Comanche
Photo by John Troesser, 2002 |
Right
about this time in 1858, Martin Fleming, then a boy, enjoyed camping
in a grove under the branches of a particular live oak tree. Fleming
had previously befriended several young Comanches, but on this occasion,
hundreds others, who had had it with encroaching settlers, were on
the warpath. As the angry warriors sped in on horseback, Fleming hid
behind this old oak, ultimately saving his life. In 1912, the grove
was being destroyed as the city of Comanche took shape, but a much
older Fleming put up a fight to save "his tree." His haven was spared
and now stands as a place of honor on the courthouse square.
When the county seat was moved to Comanche in 1859, the Cora courthouse
was developed into a two-roomed residence. Because of its historic
significance, it was later bought and moved bit by bit to the municipal
park at Lake Eanes where the Statue of Justice from the county's 1890
Victorian courthouse was also removed.
Eventually, Old Cora was moved to its present location on the southwest
corner of the courthouse square right next to Fleming
Oak..
The outstanding 1890 courthouse, designed by Jacob Larmour, followed
two other courthouses erected between 1859-1890. This palatial structure
was three stories high. Atop its clock tower was the aforementioned
Statue of Justice. |
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The
one-armed 1890 Statue of Justice.
Photo courtesy Lou Ann Herda |
| This
Statue of Justice met with many unfortunate injustices. Once, in 1897,
a proprietor of a local Comanche store demonstrated to onlookers the
sharp shooting capabilities of his new shipment of rifles. He "stepped
outside into the daylight for the benefit of his patrons" and was
dared to " shoot the arm off the lady of Justice." Although the right
arm of the law was made of 3-32"-thick lead alloy sheet metal, his
shot was accurate. In 1908, her scale of Justice flew off during a
storm. In later years, as the courthouse was being razed and she was
taken down, workers noticed two bullet holes in her neck. That was
not long before they discovered a colony of bees inside. The one-armed,
scale-less lady can now be seen in the foyer of the 1940 courthouse.
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The
1940 Comanche County Courthouse.
1940 Photo courtesy TXDoT |
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The
1940 Comanche County Courthouse today
Photo courtesy Lou Ann Herda, 2002. |
| The
1940 courthouse, designed by Wyatt C. Hedrick, was built during the
Works Progress Adminstration (WPA). This courthouse is built of native
stone quarried out of Logan's Gap. A pair of the most beautiful eagles
adorns the entrances, one of which resembles my Great Uncle Ack. |
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Swoops
attempts picking the lock as Bison Bill keeps a look out.
Photo courtesy Lou Ann Herda. |
March
2003, © Lou Ann Herda, Ed. D
Special
thanks goes to one of our most favorite people, Margaret Waring,
Comanche librarian and historian extraordinaire, for gracing
us with her time and wisdom while we were there. She stands taller
than any we've encountered.
All quotes, as well as most information, were taken from the 1969
Comanche County Courthouses by Frances B. Lockwood.
(Ms. Lockwood incidentally dedicated her book to Mrs. Waring for her
"interest in the history of Comanche County, her perseverance in digging
out the facts of that history, and preservation of historical material
in the library's files.")
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