Clay County courthouse, Henrietta, Texas. (original) (raw)
Clay County Courthouse
Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, January 2015
Clay County Courthouse
Date - 1884
Architect - Wilson & Tozer
Style - Italianate
Material - Brick and sandstone
Photographer's Note:
Before the alterations to the roof, the building strongly resembled the 1885 Red River County courthouse in Clarksville, TX designed by architect William H. Wilson.
The dome on the Clay County courthouse was placed on the roof years after its construction, replacing the original clock tower. Gabled roofs were also added to each wing. -
The 1884 Clay County courthouse
Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, April 2006
Courthouse dome today, and the clock tower remembered in mural
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, April 2009
The 1884 Clay County Courthouse as it appeared in 1939
Photo courtesy of TXDoT
The 1884 Clay County Courthouse with the original clock tower.
1909 photo courtesy of THC
The 1884 Clay County courthouse
Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, April 2006
"I found this photo on the floor in an upstairs room behind the courtroom. It shows the courthouse in its original condition with the clock tower intact. Unfortunately, my flash obscured part of the picture. A mural in downtown Henrietta has a rendition of the courthouse based on this photo."
- Terry Jeanson, April 2006 photo
Clay County Forum
Subject: Clay County Courthouse
I have greatly enjoyed many "fantasy vacations" employing your website. I grew up in Clay County, and in fact most of my family still lives there. The county courthouse is the central figure in the largest social event in the county: Pioneer Reunion, held every year in September. There are arts and crafts booths on the courthouse square and a float parade on Friday and Saturday mornings that passes on both sides of the courthouse, not to mention the fiddling contest in the old bandstand, and heaven only knows what all else!
I have many fond memories of climbing the staircases in the courthouse, and of sliding down the big slide on the Main Street side of the building. I believe the real purpose of this slide was as a fire escape, but the kids of Clay County thought it was there as a playground for us. I was saddened when the old slide was removed a few years ago during a renovation of the courthouse. The rumor was that it was a safety issue, and considering that this next generation was using the slide the same way we did, I'm sure it was. But we sure do miss that old slide! - Elizabeth Moore, July 02, 2006
