Hamilton County Courthouse, Hamilton, Texas. (original) (raw)
The restored Hamilton County Courthouse (west side)
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark
National Register of Historic Places
Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, April 2012
Hamilton County Courthouse - Hamilton, Texas
Date - 1886
Architect - E.D. Williams (See cornerstone below)
Builders - Lovell, Hood & McLeod.
Style - The limestone building was Second Empire style until it was redone in the Classical style in 1931. (See courthouse old photos below)
Hamilton County Courthouse Historical Marker
At a roadside park on Hwy 281 outside of town
Photo courtesy William Beauchamp, July 2009
Historical Marker:
Hamilton County Courthouse
Before era of this impressive courthouse, Hamilton County's government was housed in stores, a rustic school, a former livery stable, a 2-story building with top floor especially designed for a courtroom, and briefly in a saloon. Fire razed two of the early, improvised courthouses. First permanent one, built 1878, also burned in 1886.
In those days, outlaws were so numerous that guards were hired to protect visiting judges.
This 1887 structure of native limestone, quarried 2 miles east of Hamilton, remained unchanged until it was remodeled in 1931.
Hamilton County Courthouse (east side)
Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, January 2008
Photographer's Note:
"The original section, built in 1886, is in the center. The north and south side wings, crenellated towers and east and west side columned porticos were part of the 1931 addition by architect E.M. Miles." - Terry Jeanson
Hamilton County Courthouse as it appeared in 1939 -
after the 1931 remodelling.
Photo courtesy TXDoT
Hamilton County Courthouse in the early 1900s
Second Empire style - before the 1931 remodelling.
Photo courtesy texasoldphotos.com
The restored courtroom look over twice the size of the former courtroom.
Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, April 2012
Photographer's Note:
Courtroom sculpture
"According to what I heard at the rededication ceremony (April 28, 2012), this sculpture, which sits over the judge's bench, is a sculpture of Athena, not Themis or Lady Justice. I only heard part of the story of her history, so I don't know how accurate this is.
She arrived during the 1931-32 remodeling of the courthouse and was saved from the garbage after the 1950s modern remodeling. She made trips to California and New York before she was returned to Hamilton and stored in the attic of a building on the courthouse square. When she was rediscovered, she was donated to the county. During the recent restoration, a look at the plans of the 1931-32 courthouse showed an outline of the figure behind the judge's bench where she once again resides. A blindfold was added to her face sometime during her original placement in the courthouse, but she has been restored to her original appearance." -
Hamilton County Courthouse Cornerstone
Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, April 2012
Photographer's Note:
"The original cornerstone, laid in 1886, has been cleaned up, making the names and dates more legible. Although all my sources list Mason, Martin, Byrnes and Johnston as the original architects/builders, the original cornerstone lists the architect as E.D. Williams and the builders as Lovell, Hood & McLeod." - Terry Jeanson, April, 2012
Hamilton County Courthouse Cornerstone
Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, April 2012
Hamilton County Courthouse architectural details
Collage courtesy Terry Jeanson, January 2008
The restored hall of the Hamilton County Courthouse
Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, April 2012
The first floor hallway of the courthouse is like a mini-museum with display cases full of vintage photos, documents and other historical artifacts, along with a container for donations. - Terry Jeanson, January 2008
Vintage photo the courthouse in its original condition hangs in the hallway. - Terry Jeanson, January 2008
This cross-stitch needlework of the current courthouse is also hanging in the hallway. - Terry Jeanson, January 2008
