Palo Pinto Texas. (original) (raw)

It is unusual for the county seat to be smaller than other towns in the county, but at one time, before the golden age of Mineral Wells, this was the dominant population center. The city of Palo Pinto during the oil boomof 1915 reached a peak population of 23,000.

Though not grandiose like the Romanesque courthouses built in the 1890s, this 1940 building has its own understated charm. It is an excellent example of a pre-War rural courthouse. With its brass doorknobs and eagle-encrusted light fixtures, if one was to imagine a young lawyer in a seersucker suit named Huey Piece Long defending an overall-clad client, then one would be horribly wrong. Huey Long never set foot in Palo Pinto County and besides he was killed before this courthouse was built.

Clarence Darrow wasn't here or Gregory Peck or Perry Mason, but when John Grisham gets around to writing a lawyer story circa 1940 (which should be in six weeks), I'm predicting the movie will be filmed here.

A local rancher named Jim Sowell is spearheading a movement of restoration and rejuvenation for Palo Pinto. One of the few buildings that remain "on the square" is the Auction House (below, middle) which holds auctions twice a month. One block south is the old jail (1881) (below, right) which is the cornerstone of the museum area where contributors and members have several historic structures and other relics of Palo Pinto's past. Noteworthy are the bell and a wonderful hitching post (below,left) of stone and iron that is perfect in its utilitarian design. Jean and Charles Price keep Key to themuseum at 940-659-2805.