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The newly remodeled
Jeff Davis County Courthouse
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, 2005 |
The
Jeff Davis County Courthouse
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Fort Davis, Texas
Date
- 1910
Architect - L. L. Thurmon & Co., Dallas
Style - Classical Revival, while the clock tower is Beaux-Arts.
Material - Stone and concrete
Ft. Davis had
been the county seat of Presidio
County, which had included what is now Jeff
Davis and Brewster Counties. But the railroad laid tracks through
Marfa in 1885 and
Marfa became the
county seat. The people of Ft. Davis organized their own county,
which was approved by the legislature in March of 1887, making Fort
Davis again a county seat.
The courthouse
lawn features a memorial to Sgt. Manuel Gonzales, "Fort Davis'
One-Man Army" who won a Silver Star, Distinguished Service Cross
and Purple Heart for his actions at Salerno and Monte Casino during
the invasion of Italy.
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Jeff
Davis County Courthouse as it appeared in 1939
Photo courtesy TXDoT |
Jeff
Davis County Courthouse Historical Marker:
Jeff Davis
County Courthouse
Designed by the
architectural firm of l. L. Thurman and Co. of Dallas,
this building was erected in 1910-1911 and replaced the original 1880
adobe courthouse. This concrete and stone Classical Revival edifice,
erected by the Falls City Construction Company of Louisville, Kentucky,
is dominated by a massive portico supported by Doric columns. Other
distinctive design elements include the alternating horizontal bands
of pink rusticated stone made of locally quarried materials and the
Beaux Arts style clock tower, which features a Seth Thomas timepiece.
The courthouse continues as the seat of local government.
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark-2000 |
Jeff
Davis County Courthouse today
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, 2005 |
Photographer's
Note:
"The first floor hallway in the Jeff Davis County courthouse
has display cases with many interesting artifacts and historical photos."
- Terry
Jeanson |
The upper gallery
in the restored, two-story district courtroom.
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, December 2005 |
Jeff
Davis County Courthouse
Photo courtesy Chuck Salge, April , 2006 |
Turnstiles on
the Courthouse Square
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, 2005 |
| The courthouse
has turnstiles at the entrance to the walks. If someone knows the
reason for this, let us know and we'll share the information with
our readers. |
Jeff
Davis County Forum
About the Courthouse
Turnstiles
Subject:
Jeff Davis County Courthouse - Turnstiles
I was there this past weekend and can state that the turnstiles
are definately still there. In fact, I looked up your magazine to
figure out what they were for! - Alissa Andersen, Georgetown, TX,
October 3, 2010
Jeff Davis
County Courthouse
Here is a recent photo of the newly remodeled Jeff Davis County
Courthouse. I don't recall seeing any turnstiles. - Chuck Salge
Weslaco, Texas, May 15, 2006
Turnstiles
on Court House Grounds, Jeff Davis County, Ft. Davis, Texas
Around 1993 when
I had taken a group to the Big Bend and we stayed at the Prue Ranch,
I asked one of the local citizens about the turnstiles on the Jeff
Davis Court House grounds. She informed me that they were placed there
to keep the burros out. Originally, trade between the US and Mexico
was conducted by traders using the burros as pack animals to carry
the trade goods. When the burros were replaced by wagons, the traders
let the burros run loose. The burros made the court house grounds
part of their home. They became such a nuisance that the locals built
the fence and the four turnstiles around the court house to keep them
out. - John Gibbs, March 25, 2006
Subject:
Courthouse turnstiles
Your Question: "The courthouse has turnstiles...." In 1978 I got
myself married up right there in the Courthouse. I had the same
question. I was told the turnstiles were to keep the cow and goats
from wandering onto the lawn and eating the grass, the only real
lawn in town. I am really enjoying your website. - Jim Bibb, Santa
Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, March 29, 2002
Regarding the turnstyle at the Fort Davis courthouse, your reader,
Jim Bibb, is correct. I have seen turnstyles used on several ranches
to keep livestock out of yards, vegetable gardens, etc. while still
allowing humans to pass freely. - Sincerely, Bick Eubanks, June
24, 2002
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