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Historical
Marker Text Courthouses
of Hardin CountyHardin
County was created in 1858. The first
official Hardin County building was probably a two-story
log building that burned about 1886. Early county records were destroyed in
the conflagration.
In 1887, architect Frank Smith of Beaumont designed
a two-story frame structure
built in Kountze by local contractor W. B. Pedigo.
A safe was positioned inside the structure and the walls were built around it.
The building was replaced in 1905. J. B. Hooks moved the old courthouse
across the street to become the J. B. Hooks Abstract Company.
A new
masonry courthouse was erected in 1905. It was designed by Andrew P.
Bryan and built by M. J. Lewman and Company. Domed in the tradition of the nation's
capitol and the Texas
State Capitol, the edifice was built of native stone from the Pecos area of
West Texas. Salmon-colored brick was
imported from the Hydraulic Press Brick Company of St. Louis, and the columns
and bases were crafted by Bedford Stone Company. A carbide lighting system was
installed in 1918. A three-story colonial-style sandstone building was erected
with four 24-foot two-story columns front and back and 16 smaller columns supporting
the dome. This building served until 1958.
A modern
facility was planned by Dickson-Dickson and Associates and built by Lumbeck
Construction Company in 1958. The 1905 edifice was destroyed in 1960. At
the end of the 20th century, the 1958 courthouse was still in service and the
1887 building continued to stand, now the home of law offices, near the courthouse
square.
(2000) |
 |
Hardin
County Courthouse Historical Marker
SH 326 & Redwood St.
Photo
courtesy Terry
Jeanson, December 2007 |
The
Present Hardin County Courthouse
- Kountze, TexasDate
- 1958
Architect - Dickson, Dickson & Associates
Style - Modern
|
| 1958
Hardin County courthouse - "Another example of a modern style courthouse
that was dead on arrival" - Terry
Jeanson |
The
1958 Hardin County Courthouse
1965 photo courtesy of THC |
The
Third Hardin County Courthouse
- Kountze, Texas"Hardin
County's third courthouse was completed in 1905. Built of brick and stone
in a colonial style, it was designed by architect Andrew P. Bryan. It served until
the current courthouse was constructed and it was demolished in 1960." -
Terry
Jeanson |
Painting
of 1905 Hardin County Courthouse in courthouse lobby today
Photo
courtesy Terry
Jeanson, December 2007 |
The
1905 Hardin County Courthouse
1911 Postcard courtesy of THC |
Another
view of the 1905 Hardin County Courthouse
Photo
courtesy texasoldphotos.com |
1905 courthouse bell on display
in the lobby of the current courthouse.
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, December 2007 |
1905 courthouse cornerstone
on display in the lobby of the current courthouse.
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, December 2007 |
The
Second Hardin County Courthouse
- Kountze, Texas"The
1887 two-story frame courthouse built in Kountze
was designed by Beaumont
architect Frank Smith. It was used until 1905 when it was moved across the street
to become the J.B. Hooks Abstract Company. According to the historical marker,
the building is still supposed to be on the square in use as a law office. However,
could not find the 1887 building on the square." - Terry
Jeanson, December 2007 |
Painting
of 1887 Hardin County Courthouse in courthouse lobby today
Photo
courtesy Terry
Jeanson, December 2007 |
The
First Hardin County Courthouse
"The 1858
log courthouse in the first county seat of Hardin
burned in a suspicious fire on August 8, 1886. The following year, the county
seat was moved to Kountze." - Terry
Jeanson |
Painting
of 1858 Hardin County Courthouse in courthouse lobby today
Photo
courtesy Terry
Jeanson, December 2007 |
"A gazebo on
the northeast corner of the courthouse square. (Made from some of the columns
of the 1905 courthouse?)
A replica of the clock tower dome from the 1905
Hardin County courthouse was completed in December of 2008 and sits on the northwest
corner of the courthouse grounds." - Terry
Jeanson | |
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