Xmas 2011 part one: cold spring, livingston, woodville, jasper, newton, kountze

Cold Spring CH, 1917.

Architect: Lane & Dowdy

We couldn't find the old jail.  Lunched at Crystal's Bistro - slow service, but the food was worth it!  

Livingston CH, 1924.

Architect: McLelland & Fink

Jail is attached.

Woodville CH, 1891.

Architect: T. S. Hodges

  We were told this was the oldest non-remodeled CH still in use in Texas.  A woman from the Juvenile Probation office showed us a painting of the original exterior.  They hope to restore it back to its original appearance in the future.  The 1930's remodel removed Victorian details, stuccoed and added on to the building. 

Jasper CH, 1889.

Architect: Eugene T. Heiner

  Older than Woodville, also stuccoed in the 1930's.  Hm.

Newton CH, 1902.

Architect: Martin & Moodie

Nice town.

Kountze CH, 1958.

Architect: Dickson-Dickson & Associates

  Ugh.  This turned out to be the BEST way to see this ugly modernity.  And the clock tower is a replica of the old courthouse's.  Our first night visit.  The Christmas lights improve it greatly - they should leave them up year-round! 

1 year anniversary trip: cuero -> floresville 11/12-14/11

Cuero CH - 1894.

Architect: A. O. Watson

Cuero is a cool little town.  We had lunch at a BBQ place, which was okay.

Old Victoria CH - 1892 - still in use: linked to newer addition. 

Architect: James Riely Gordon

 Citizens of Victoria petitioned to keep the old one when the new one was built.  Victoria is a lovely town.

Victoria CH addition - 1967.

Architects: Christopher, Distefano & Associates

Port Lavaca CH - 1959.

Architects: Rusty & Martin  

Aaron really likes this one, me not so much.

Edna CH - 1954.

Architect: F. Perry Johnson

Aaron kind of liked it, I didn't. 

We camped at Lake Texoma State Park - there is a recreation area across the road that was hosting the Texana Chili Spill!  A chili cookoff!!  We walked around and got to sample 2 briskets with sauce, and a bowl of delicious gumbo!  YUM!  Everybody was super nice! 

Goliad CH - 1894.

Architect: Alfred Giles

  Giant oak in front rumored to be the "hanging tree" but locals couldn't confirm that.

Breakfast at the Empresario - delicious!!  We had a long conversation with the owner - his wife's mother was a two-term mayor of Goliad and her father was a blacksmith who did a lot of work on the courthouse!  Goliad is a cool town. 

We also visited Goliad State Park and La Bahia - La Bahia has rooms that they rent out for guests!  Really cool!   

Refugio CH - 1917.

Architect: Atlee B. Ayers

Sinton CH - 1927.

Architect: Henry T. Phelps

Rockport CH - 1956.

Architect: Lynn A. Evans

The replacement for the James Riely Gordon courthouse. Rockport is a neat town and worth visiting.  We drove on to Fulton and had a beer at the Moondog.  Fulton has the Fulton Mansion, which is a gorgeous historic home - visit it and donate to it's upkeep! Birding boat tours and fresh seafood are plentiful in the Rockport / Fulton area.

The old Rockport CH, built by J. Riely Gordon, and destroyed to make room for the new one.  What a shame! 

Corpus Christi CH - 1973.

Architect: Smyth & Smyth, Kipp & Winston, Wiszenia & Petersen, Bennett, Martin & Solka

So awful they shared the misery among 9 architects? 

Corpus has lots of fun things to do - we had dinner at Landry's on the water and camped at Lake Corpus Christi State Park, which was lovely.  

Lake Corpus Christi State Park.

George West CH - 1919.

Architect: Alfred Giles

Hometown of J. Frank Dobie.

Beeville CH - 1912.  The architect also sculpted the Justice on top - not blind.  

Architect: Whitney & Heldenfelds

The interior is lovely too.  

We had breakfast at Barth's Restaurant, which was good.

Karnes City - 1894.  The old building is underneath all the stucco, and the interior is falling apart - fortunately the citizens of Karnes County passed a bond last week to restore it. 

Architects: John Cormack & J. A. Austin

Helena CH - 1873 - the former county seat of Karnes County.  A son of a prominent rancher was killed in a shootout by sheriff's deputies (after he killed the sheriff).  His father vowed that since Helena killed his son, he would kill Helena.  So, he donated the land for the railroad to be built - miles away from Helena!  And Helena did die. 

Floresville jail, 1887.

Architect: J. Riely Gordon.

Floresville CH - 1884.  

Architect: Alfred Giles

OUR HALFWAY POINT!!  (127 / 254)

10/29 - 10/30/11 Conroe, Huntsville, Groveton, Crockett

Conroe courthouse, 1936 - being remodeled.

Architect: Joseph Finger

Conroe is also home to Southern Star Brewery, which brews some mighty fine beer! 

Huntsville courthouse, 1970.

Architect: Joiner, Coburn & King

We stayed in Huntsville - had dinner at the Farmhouse (yum!), happened upon Scare in the Square (Halloween festival) and found the old jail and Sam Houston's "grave" - he's not actually buried here.  

Groveton courthouse, 1913. 

Architect: C. H. Page

The copper doors are lovely, the town is quiet.  The old jail is still in use. 

Copper doors at Groveton - wow!

Groveton jail, 1938, still in use!

Crockett courthouse, 1939.

Architect: Blum E. Hester

  Hometown of Lightnin' Hopkins.  Nice town, well-kept.

9/10 - 9/11/11: Columbus, Wharton, Bay City, Angleton, Richmond

Burned area just outside of Bastrop.  Just a piece of the 34,000 acres that have burned in the last week.

Columbus courthouse, 1891.

Architect: Eugene T. Heiner

Gorgeous, but closed for remodeling - mental note to self: must come back and see the stained-glass dome inside!  Nice little town.  

Wharton veteran's memorial with an actually-burning (not all of them are, I swear this one is) eternal flame. 

Wharton courthouse, 1889.  

Architect: Eugene T. Heiner

Hometown of Dan Rather.  The clocks were all right too - that's unusual!  

Nice town square, nice town.

Bay City courthouse, 1965.

Architects: Rusty, Martin & Vale  

Definitely one of the ugliest ones.

Angleton courthouse, 1940.

Architect: Lamar Q. Cato

Angleton courthouse, 1976.

Architect: Wyatt C. Hedrick & Co.

Angleton courthouse, 1897.  

Architect: Eugene T. Heiner

Probably remodeled on the exterior because no other late-1800's courthouses look like this.

We've NEVER seen 3 courthouses in one town! And all 3 are still in use: the oldest is the county museum, the other 2 are still courthouses.

Interior of the Richmond courthouse, 1909.  We didn't get in (it's Sunday), this was taken through the glass in the door.

Richmond courthouse, 1909.

Architect: Pierce Goodwin, Alexander Linville.

6/4/12: Nooooo!!!  The 1909 courthouse is no longer in use!  There's a new, UGLY one now!  : (

Richmond with it's two additions and jail.

8/20 Comanche, Stephenville, Hamilton, Gatesville

Goldthwaite finished!  It was surrounded by fence when we saw it in April.

Comanche courthouse, 1941. 

Architect: Wyatt C. Hedrick

Old Cora courthouse.  The oldest remaining courthouse in Texas, although not in use anymore.  Built in 1856.

Stephenville courthouse, 1892.  

Architect: James Riely Gordon

Gordon also did 2 other buildings in town, so Stephenville is worth visiting if only for that! It is a nice town though.  

J. Riely Gordon's bank in Stephenville.

J. Riely Gordon's Crows Opera House in Stephenville.

Old Hamilton jail, built in the 1930's.

Hamilton courthouse, 1932.  

Architects:  1932: E. M. Miles

1887: Mason, Martin, Byrnes & Johnston

 Apparently the older one, built in 1887, is in the middle of the newer one.  Hamilton is a cute town and has a good radio station!

Gatesville courthouse, 1897.  

Architect: W. C. Dodson

 Apparently the dome inside is spectacular, so we'll have to go back during the week when it's open.

Old Gatesville jail.