Terry Jeanson's Texas Courthouse Gallery. (original) (raw)

Architecture | Courthouses A self-described courthouse aficionado goes inside Texas' favorite buildings to find love letters in oil and canvas - and watercolor -and pencil -and crayon...

Photographer's Note:
"The old adage, "don't judge a book by its cover," is something that can be applied to many (not all) of the bland and unattractive modern or "modernized" courthouses around Texas. I am always pleased to enter these courthouses and find historical photos and artwork, particularly drawings or paintings of previous courthouses. These images and works of art are also found in older, historical courthouses that have been restored over the years, but certain restrictions (by the Texas Historical Commission) keep them from displaying many of these items in their hallways. Sometimes, these paintings are not in an obvious location and on occasion I've had to peek into various offices to find them or ask for assistance to gain access to locked courtrooms to see and photograph them. Fortunately, in my case, most of the courthouse employees have been very helpful and gracious and very happy to show me around or inform me of paintings displayed in other locations like the town bank, library or historical museum. For all you courthouse enthusiasts out there, try not to judge a courthouse by its cover. You never know what you'll find inside." - Terry Jeanson

The 1902-03 Angelina County courthouse designed by architect James Riely Gordon. This painting, by artist Audrey Midford, is hanging in the county clerk's office in the current courthouse. December, 2007 photo.

An oil painting of the 1889 Aransas County courthouse displayed in the lobby of the current courthouse. April 2005 photo.

A drawing of the 1884 Baylor County courthouse hanging in the county clerk's office of the current courthouse. The dome was added after the original clock tower was removed. April 2006 photo

A drawing of the 1882 Bexar County courthouse in a display case at the current courthouse. April 2007 photo

Oil painting of the 1886 Bosque County courthouse displayed in the Bosque County Bank across from the courthouse. October 2005 photo

"Oil paintings of the 1891 Coke County courthouse with and without its original tower. These and several other paintings of Coke County, along with photos of all of the county's historical markers, line the walls of the current courthouse." August 2006 photos

A drawing of the Dickens County courthouse in its original condition displayed on the second floor of the current courthouse at the top of the stairs. February 2007 photo.

Oil painting of the 1904 Ector County courthouse displayed at east side entrance of current courthouse. June 2006 photo

Oil Painting of old courthouse/jail and current Glasscock County courthouse displayed in the lobby of the current courthouse. June 2006 photo

"A print of an oil painting titled "Early Haskell" by George Kovach. It depicts the Haskell County courthouse in its original condition. This picture is hanging, not in the county courthouse, but in the Dairy Queen east of the square." - September 2007 photo

This oil painting of the Hood County courthouse by artist Marjorie Ross is hanging in the county judge's office. February, 2008 photo

Oil painting of 1883 Houston County courthouse displayed on second floor of the current courthouse. February 2006 photo.

This oil painting of the 1887 Kaufman County courthouse hangs in the Carnegie Library Museum in Terrell, TX. Dec. 2006 photo

Oil painting of the current (1930) Midland County courthouse after its 1974 remodeling, hanging in the lobby of the current courthouse. June 2006 photo.

This 1882 Morris County Courthouse oil painting hangs in the current Morris County courthouse. December 2006 photo.

Drawing of the 1885 Panola County courthouse by artist Stan Routh is hanging in the county clerk's office of the current courthouse. December 2007 photo

This oil painting of the 1916 Parmer County courthouse and jail is hanging in the first floor of the courthouse. February 2007 photo

Prints of these oil paintings of the 1910 Smith County courthouse are on display inside the old Smith County jail in Tyler. July 2007 Photo

This oil painting of the former 1911 Stonewall County courthouse hanging outside of the district courtroom in the current courthouse. August 2006 Photo

Tinted photogrpah of the 1906 Terry County courthouse, hanging in the lobby of the current courthouse. It was 40 feet square and 24 feet high and the contracted construction cost was $3800. February 2007.

This painting of the 1891 Tyler County courthouse in its original condition is hanging in the office of Tyler County Judge Jacques L. Blanchette. It was painted by local artist Doretta Gilchrist. December, 2007 Photo

Oil painting of the 1890 Wilbarger County courthouse hanging on the wall in the front lobby of the current courthouse. April 2006 photo

Oil painting of the 1908 Yoakum County courthouse hanging in the county auditor's office of the current courthouse. Painting by Linda Powell, '81. February 2007 photo

Editor's Note:
The frequent contributions of courthouse (and jail) photos by San Antonian Terry Jeanson have long been appreciated by the staff here at Texas Escapes. We were aware that the depth of Terry's interest went beyond simple photo shoots. Jeanson can recall the styles, names of architects, the number of courthouses a particular county has had, the removal and replacement of towers, the statuary and even the locations of the former courthouses. At this point we wouldn't be surprised to find that he knew the names of the architect's children. What brought us to "this point" was his recent letter in which he sent in photos of this artwork to share with our readers. In some cases these paintings are the only visual record of a building that disappeared from the landscape long ago.

Jeanson has gone inside scores of courthouses, searching lobbies, atriums, courtrooms and closets to see what was on (or off) the walls. The selection shown here is the first of a series on "Courthouse Art." If and when the state comes up with A Courthouse Bee (as in Spelling Bee) Texas Escapes is sponsoring Terry.

Since the artist's signatures were not always present (or readable), we ask the assistance of the people who see these painting regularly to send in the artist's name so that credit may be given.