Milam County Courthouse
by Joan Carroll
Title
Milam County Courthouse
Artist
Joan Carroll
Medium
Photograph - Digital Art
Description
There are many mature trees surrounding the Milam County Courthouse in Cameron TX, making for a beautiful scene but a difficult photographic task! In searching for the best viewpoint with good lighting, I walked back and forth, around and around. I settled on one spot that would include the statue of Ben Milam (for whom the county was named). It was on a sidewalk. Despite that, within seconds there was a burning and stinging on my legs! Ants were swarming all over my shoes and up my legs! I did the 'get the ants off me' dance right there on the sidewalk! They turned out to be fire ants. This photo was taken before the fire ant encounter! This is the fourth structure to serve as the Milam County courthouse, dating from 1892. The design employed is Renaissance Revival with identical north and south facades. Made of cream-colored limestone, it is considered sixty percent fireproof. Square Corinthian columns rise from the heavily rusticated base, while the four entrances have non-functional balconies. After a complete restoration the courthouse was re-dedicated on July 4, 2002.
During the restoration the building's tower, removed in 1930, was recreated. Together with the Milam County Jail, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places as a single entry on December 20, 1977. FUN FACT: the original statue of the Goddess of Justice at the top of the tower was removed during WWII along with the clock and decorative sheet metal. The metal and clock were used during the war. The statue was put in a safe place, just in case it would later be put back on top. In fact, the place is so safe that after over fifty years, the statue still hasn't been found. The statue at the top now is a new version.
FEATURED PHOTO, The Road To Self Promotion group, 7/29/15
FEATURED PHOTO, ART - It Is Good For You group, 7/29/15
Uploaded
July 29th, 2015
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