Sterling County Courthouse, Sterling City, Texas. (original) (raw)
Sterling County Courthouse
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, December 2009
The Present Sterling County Courthouse -
Date - 1938
Architect - David S. Castle
Style - Texas Renaissance
Material - Brick
Sterling County Courthouse as it appeared in 1939
Photo courtesy TXDoT
Photographer's Note:
One of the first things I look for when I go inside a county courthouse is old pictures of the former courthouse or courthouses. The Sterling County Museum was closed during my visit, so I hoped that I would find some pictures inside the 1938 courthouse.
According to the THC, Sterling County's first courthouse was designed by Oscar Ruffini in 1891. Oscar and his brother Frederick designed many Texas county courthouses in the late 1800s. When a new courthouse was built in Sterling County in 1905, the 1891 courthouse was turned into a hotel. I found no pictures of either building inside the courthouse.
My search led me to the office of the Justice of the Peace. I talked to the woman who was there (I'm assuming it was the Justice of the Peace) but she didn't know about the 1891 courthouse. She told me that the 1905 courthouse was very similar to the 1901 Irion County courthouse built (and still standing) in Sherwood, the first Irion County seat.
Although my search for pictures of previous Sterling County courthouses came up empty on this trip, many courthouses in Texas proudly display photos or drawings or paintings of previous courthouses that may no longer be around but are still part of their county history. -
Terry Jeanson, August 9, 2008
Sterling County Courthouse plaque
Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, August 2006
 |
Sterling County Courthouse Photo courtesy Ken Rudine, August 2005 |
|---|