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South
side of the 1917 Real County courthouse.
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, January 2008 |
Ransom Annex on the east side of the 1917 Real County courthouse
Photo courtesy
Terry
Jeanson, January 2008 |
Photographer's
Note:
"The
Ransom Annex on the
east side of the 1917 courthouse was completed in 1978 and is, essentially, the
new courthouse. The 1917 courthouse now houses county offices. This stone building
was designed by Barton D. Riley & Associates.
Both the South
and North side of
the 1917 Real County courthouse entrances were converted to windows.
The
courthouse contained a jail
with two small cells that was used until 1978. The bars can still be seen on the
windows." - Terry
Jeanson |
North
side of the 1917 courthouse
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, January 2008 |
Real
County Courthouse as it appeared in 1939
Photo courtesy TXDoT |
Real
County Courthouse in the 1950s
Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/
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The
courthouse jail with two small cells used until 1978.
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, January 2008 |
Real
County courthouse historical marker
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, January 2006 |
Historical
Marker Text:
Real County
courthouse
Leakey
was the county seat of Edwards County from 1883 to 1891 when a vote moved the
seat to Rocksprings. Real
County, named for businessman and State Senator Julius Real, was organized from
parts of Edwards, Kerr and Bandera counties in April 1913. Leakey was named the
county seat and a temporary building was erected on the square. Controversy over
the site of the county seat continued for several years, so Judge D. D. Thompson
began planning for a permanent courthouse upon his election in 1917. Voters approved
bonds to finance a permanent structure. The bonds were financed through Hanover
National Bank of New York.
Architect H. A. Reuter designed the 1918 courthouse,
and the firm of McCreary and Schott served as contractors. According to oral history,
a local builder known as "Scotty" Archibald made a significant contribution, as
well. E. F. Vanderbilt was construction superintendent.
Using native limestone
quarried from Tucker Hollow near the site, workers erected Reuter's vision of
a Classical Revival edifice with a fortress-like façade. The rusticated limestone
bands were laid in regular courses with quicklime bonding to create the building's
texture and solid feel. A stone pediment with simple cornice topped by a standing
seam metal roof contributes to the building's character. Renovations and additions
made in 1978 transformed the original doors into large central windows with flat
arch and transoms. The fine structure retains its original flavor and distinctive
features and remains the center of Real County government.
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 2000 | |
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