Aaron and I ready to go! We've got camping gear, one dog, two bikes and one kayak!
Anderson marker.
Anderson courthouse, 1893.
Architect: F. S. Glover
There is horse poop in the road from the horse-drawn stagecoach that runs from the historic Fanthorp Inn to the courthouse, around it, and back again.
We explored the antique shops and visited the Fanthorp Inn State Historic Site. We took a tour there with a guide who talked about the outdoor kitchen, the spittoon, slurping out of the saucer, how short the people were, and how Sam Houston had stayed there at least once. A lovely site, worth the side trip!
Madisonville courthouse, 1970.
Architects: Dickson, Dickson, Buckley & Bullock
However, the clocks were all correct - haven't seen that since!
Centerville courthouse, 1886, and old jail.
Architect: William Johnson
One of the oldest CH's still in use in Texas.
Centerville jail.
Fairfield courthouse, 1919.
Architect: W. R. Kaufman
There's a newer jail on the side and when we walked past it, I said, "Helllooooo! Anybody in there?" and an inmate responded!!! Eeek!!
Detail of the Fairfield courthouse.
We camped at Fairfield State Park and it was lovely. Dinner was gnocchi with sundried tomatoes, artichoke hearts, and wine. We played hangman for a while and then went to bed.
Aaron's comments for the day:
On the road, 290, to Brenham where we will begin the portion of journey new to all. It is 11:47. Bright sun and no clouds. In attendance are Anne, Kobi, and I, Aaron. We have lined out a seven day, six night journey to visit some thirty courthouses. No hotels for us. Camping at 5 different state parks and one Army Corps of Engineers park is the only way to live for this trip. We have brought two bicycles and a two person kayak, in addition to the requisite camping paraphernalia. The first of our courthouses is to be in Anderson, Texas. It is the seat of Grimes County. As we meet our courthouses I will describe them in sufficient detail, as I see fit.
Anderson Texas... Courthouse was classic Victorian with a staircase up to the second floor mounted externally on the front of the building. While in town we stopped at a former service station, now an antique shop. Anne bought a fountain pen and cartridges, I bought an assortment of soap, razor blades, and the like. After going to the antique shop we went to a state historical site also located in Anderson.
Fanthorp Inn. A bit of Texan history where re-enactors tell of Houston's visits and life in frontier Texas. Overall a worthy little county seat, but hardly one recommending as a destination, more a stop on the road... Now, on to Madisonville!
Madisonville was not much to speak of. The courthouse was a modern edifice, but not the modern of Burnet, but the modern of a new, square, windowless era. We didn't linger.
Further down the road lay Centerville and a courthouse worthy of the name county seat. 1887, locally made brick and a jail next door to announce its accomplishments. The jail was dated 1919, much newer than the courthouse, but closely resembled the one in Fred'burg, and the one in Bastrop. The bumper stickers in Centerville were not the welcoming type, making various accusations as to our activities and loyalties, but that aside, it was a cute town.
Onward, to Fairfield, and a very nice courthouse resembling closely that in Centerville, but without the benefit of the jail near at hand. Or rather, not the vintage jail, but a more current type still populated with inmates. "Hello, anybody home?" Brought forth a response and a quicker step round the building. : )
Now we are here at Fairfield State Park, and I am able to write without the motion of the car. Our site is nice, and the lake is near. Now, to dinner!
Camping at Fairfield Lake State Park - A great time! We had to pick from a limited number of sites, but were satisfied with our camp. We set up without incident and I was able to write a bit. Our neighbors on the right were a rather large family of Hispanics, with the Tejano music to show for it. They quieted down and were alltogether great neighbors. The biggest complaint would have to be the unofficial trail which seemed to terminate at our site. This led to a number of people walking through in the evening and again in the morning. For dinner we made gnocchi with artichokes, sundried tomatoes, and Hit cookies for dessert. The box of Big Red House (wine) won't last....
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