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THE
LOVE SONG OF J. RIELY GORDON
A series of photo essays of courthouses designed by J.R.G.
The Fayette
County Courthouse
c. 1891
La Grange,
Texas
Text and Photos
by John Troesser
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Fayette
County Courthouse Tower
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Part
I - The
Courthouse
County and Seat
La Grange is the
county seat of Fayette County.
The name comes from the Marquis de Lafayette's estate in France
which translates as "The Meadows". After the (American) Revolution,
it seemed that America couldn't name enough towns after the Marquis
- and many of them remain today. At last count there were something
like 16 towns across the United States named directly or indirectly
after the Frenchman. Since there was already a Fayetteville in Fayette
County - the citizens here settled for La Grange.
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Fayette
is one of the most historic counties in the state of Texas. The Muster
Oak - or Dawson Oak - on the NE corner of the square attests to
that. The tree is looking much better than it has in years past -
despite the fact that a good deal of its trunk is now concrete. Special
attention has been given to the tree - and it's paid off.
A fire has recently (2000) destroyed a historic corner in downtown
La Grange - but this will be made right - count on it. The square
itself dates back to a time before a standard driving pattern existed
for small towns across Texas. Please pay attention to the flow of
traffic around the square when you visit - and watch the cars that
are parked in between two traffic lanes. Corner intersections are
NOT all four way stops. |
The
Building:
The understated Fayette County courthouse is not one of Gordon's "wedding
cake" efforts like Waxahachie or Waco. It's a relatively utilitarian
building - as it was designed to be. The detail is there - it just
doesn't hit you at first glance.
Gordon often employed a cruciform floor plan (on his courthouses with
a square floor plan) that drew air up through the entrances and staircases
through a central shaft. It must have been a blessing to civil servants
before air-conditioning.
For an informative no-nonsense description of the courthouse - we
turn to Richard Zelade's Hill Country:
"The most visually arresting building on the square is, of course,
the Fayette County Courthouse, built in 1891 to the tune of $96,000.
The finished product was well worth the cost, don't you agree?
The exterior walls are Belton white limestone, complemented with blue
sandstone quarried at nearby Muldoon. Red Pecos sandstone stringcourses
(decorative horizontal mouldings) and pink Burnet granite columns
and steps form rich accents. At the base of the clock tower is a large
stone slab on which is carved a large American eagle. Above this,
at the tower's four corners, are carved griffins. The roof is covered
with slate and Spanish tile."
Part II. The Clock
Tower - next page
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