Texas Courthouse Tour: 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.