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The Present
Young County Courthouse -
Graham, Texas
Date - 1932
Architect - Withers & Thompson
Style - Moderne
Material - Limestone and concrete
Location - On Hwy 16
History:
A frame two-story courthouse was built in 1876 and was replaced by
a three-story limestone courthouse eight years later. The current
courthouse replaced the 1884 courthouse that was demolished in 1932.
See Historical
Marker
Photographer's Note:
"The 1932 Young County courthouse - The architects, Withers &
Thompson, also designed the Menard
County courthouse in Menard.
The construction materials are different in both courthouses, but
the internal and external design is very similar.
There are many interesting details on the interior of this building,
including intricate designs that have been painted on the ceiling."
- Terry
Jeanson, August 13, 2008
Book Hotel Here › Graham
Hotels |
The 1932 Young
County Courthouse as it appeared in 1939
Photo courtesy TXDoT |
Courthouse front
entrance
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, April, 2006 |
A courthouse
detail that may depict the arrival of the Graham Brothers
TE Photo 2-04 |
A magnificent
courthouse eagle.
TE Photo 2-04
See Texas
Eagles |
Stonecut cattleman
oversees herd with oilwells in distance. Another courthouse detail
TE Photo 2004 |
Stonecut detail
over the rear side entrance
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, April, 2006 |
"The district
courtroom. The three woman depicted above the judge's bench represent
courage, justice and truth."
- Terry
Jeanson, Apri, 2006 photo |
The beautifully
detailed ceiling in the district courtroom.
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, April 2006 |
Young County
courthouse cornerstone
Photo courtesy Mike
Price, October 2007 |
The
1884 Young County Courthouse
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| The
east sandstone arch of the 1884 courthouse was saved and is on display.
TE photo, 2004 |
Historical Marker:
Site of Third
County Courthouse
Young
County was organized in 1856 with Belknap
designated as county seat. After retreat of frontier troops during
Civil War, county records were moved to Jacksboro
1865 during renewed Indian trouble. County was reorganized 1874 with
Graham, county seat.
Courthouse (of which only archway remains) was built 1884. Native
sandstone for the two-story structure was quarried east of Graham
by Irish workers. N. J. Rosenquist, a native of Sweden and builder
of Texas courthouses,
was chief stonemason. Building had two halls in form of Greek cross--a
plan that followed points of the compass. (Archway belonged to east
hall.) Officials at the time of construction were: County Judge, R.
F.Arnold; Treasurer, J. W. Wadley; County Clerk, C. O. Joline; Tax
Assessor, J. G. Hill; County Attorney, J. A. Woolfolk; Sheriff, W.
T. Bunger; County Commissioners, W. C. Blakey, J. J. Hughes, J. .
Mercer and H. D. Williams.
Courthouse was razed in 1932 after completion of present structure.
A. A. Morrison, fire marshal, led efforts to preserve historic archway
during street improvements in 1936.
During its existence, this Courthouse witnessed and preserved the
records of many historic events of Young County. |
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The 1884 Young
County courthouse marker
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, April, 2006 |
Tom Cherryhomes
memorial marker on the courthouse grounds
"In Memory of Tom Cherryhomes
who died defending the records of Young County
Feb. 24, 1915"
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, 2009 |
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