The Brazoria County Courthouse, Brazoria, Texas, c. 1894. (original) (raw)

1894 Brazoria County courthouse, Texas , old post card The Brazoria Courthouse at Brazoria c. 1894 Old Post Card Courtesy Julie McConnell
Former Brazoria County Courthouse cornerstone The date of the courthouse - A.D. 1894 Photo courtesy Julie McConnell, 2002
Relic of former Brazoria County Courthouse, Brazoria, Texas All that remains of the 1894 courthouse in Brazoria Photo courtesy Julie McConnell, 2002

The town of Brazoria dates back to 1828 - the year it was platted. It served briefly as the first Capital of the Republic of Texas - since it was the only town with (barely) sufficient accommodations for the legislators.

The county was organized in 1836 and a wooden building was the first courthouse. The artifacts on this page are from the J. Riely Gordon courthouse of 1894. The postcard above shows similarities to Gordon's Ellis, Wise and Fayette County courthouses.

Angleton was Brazoria's rival for the county seat and Angleton had the advantage of having a railroad. The citizens of Brazoria hired J. Riely Gordon to build a courthouse - which cost a reported $90,000. The idea that was - with such a fine, attention-getting courthouse - Brazoria would retain it's status as county seat.

But, in 1896 Angleton was voted in as county seat and the huge courthouse at Brazoria wasn't needed.

1897 Brazoria County courthouse original condition, Angleton, Texas

The 1897 Brazoria County courthouse
in its original condition
This picture is hanging at the entrance to the old courthouse, now serving as the Brazoria County Historical Museum.
Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, September 2005

Photographer's Note:
Hard to believe that a structure of this historical and architectural magnitude was reduced to this, merely because of political infighting. I hope that you and your readers (one of which I have definitely become.) find this info useful.

If I can ever help you with anything else, please let me know. There are many topics of interest in Southern Brazoria County that are not only interesting but had a great impact on the history of Texas. ..... Thanks for providing an extremely thoughtful and insightful website.- Julie McConnell, April 22, 2002

See Brazoria County Courthouses, Angleton, Texas