Erath County Courthouse
by Joan Carroll
Title
Erath County Courthouse
Artist
Joan Carroll
Medium
Photograph - Digital Photograph
Description
My first early morning stop one summer morning was Erath County Courthouse in Stephenville, TX. I am always surprised to be driving along country and farm roads and quickly come upon a county seat with such large impressive structures! The Erath County Courthouse is a substantial three story edifice constructed of local white limestone and red Pecos sandstone. The tower of the building extends to a height of 95 feet, and the building's base measures 60 by 80 feet. This building presents a variation on a traditional theme in early Texas courthouses of intersecting halls on the first floor dividing the first floor space into four major areas. The twist is that the tower walls extend down through the center of the building creating an open central space on the first floor. This central space or atrium has no immediate ceiling and is open to the second and third floors. The existing courthouse is the third courthouse that has been the seat of justice for Erath County. In 1866, the county's first courthouse, a wooden structure, went the way of many earlier courthouses. The blaze could be seen for miles away. When the county decided to build another structure, they didn't take their chances: they built it of stone. However, by 1887, that one needed serious help. At that time, the city of Dublin had the idea of building the courthouse. It took the county four years to decide what to do, but the vote in 1891 kept the county seat in Stephenville. The old block-style courthouse was razed, and plans were made for this new county courthouse. The cornerstone was laid on December 3, 1891, and construction soon began.
FEATURED PHOTO, Photography And Textures Make Fine Art group, 8/10/16
FEATURED PHOTO, Pleasing The Eye group, 8/5/14
FEATURED PHOTO, Texas Landscape and Landmark Photography group, 8/4/14
Uploaded
August 4th, 2014
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Viewed 4,334 Times - Last Visitor from Brownsville, TX on 04/23/2024 at 3:12 PM
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