| |
The
newly restored Kenedy County Courthouse
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, November 2010 |
Kenedy
County Courthouse - Sarita, Texas
Date - 1917
Architect - Henry Truman Phelps
Style - Texas Renaissance
Material - Brick
"The
Kenedy County courthouse was actually built in 1917 and it served as the courthouse
for Willacy County. When Kenedy County was created in 1921, Willacy County was
reorganized and the county seat was moved to Raymondville.
Sarita became the county seat of the newly formed
Kenedy County and the county continued to use the 1917 courthouse." - Terry
Jeanson
Courthouse Restoration
Photographer's
Note:
"On May 28, 2010, the citizens of Kenedy County celebrated the completion
of the restoration of their county courthouse. According to a May 27, 2010 article
in the Corpus Christi Caller Times, the restoration cost more than $4 million,
paid for by the county and not through the state's courthouse restoration program.
The courthouse originally cost $19,000 to build. Due to the moisture that built
up after the addition of the white stucco, the exterior brick and stone had deteriorated
and had to be replaced. The original paint schemes were uncovered and duplicated,
with tan and light green in the hallways and tan and gold in the courtroom. Original
carpet samples were also found and duplicated.
During my visit in November
of 2010, I could find no cornerstone on the building, which usually includes the
name of the architect, but the design has always been attributed to San Antonio
architect Henry Truman Phelps, who designed a similar looking courthouse
for Willacy County in 1922." - Terry
Jeanson |
 |
Kenedy
County Courthouse in brick
1939 photo courtesy TXDoT |
Kenedy
County courthouse in stucco
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, December, 2006 |
| This
picture of the Kenedy County courthouse hangs in the first floor hallway of the
courthouse. The building's original brick exterior was covered by stucco. Photo
courtesy Terry
Jeanson, December, 2006 |
The
restored courtroom
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, November 2010 |
Oil
painting of Mifflin Kenedy, the county's namesake, hangs above the judge's bench.
Photo
courtesy Terry
Jeanson, November 2010 |
Kenedy
County Courthouse - SW view
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, November 2010 | |
|
