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Maverick County
Courthouse
Photo coutesy Terry
Jeanson, October, 2005 |
The Present
Maverick County Courthouse
Eagle Pass, Texas
Date - 1979
Architect - Barton D. Riley & Associates
Style - Modern
Material - Brick
The current Maverick County courthouse is north of the 1885 building
on Quarry St. |
The 1885 Maverick
County Courthouse
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark
Photo coutesy Terry
Jeanson, October, 2005 |
Date - 1885
Architect - Wahrenberger & Beckman
Style - Romanesque Revival
Material - Brick and stone
National Register Property
The 1885 courthouse is faintly reminiscent of the Presidio
County Courthouse in Marfa.
Photographers Note:
The exterior of the 1885 Maverick County courthouse was restored and
the building was rededicated on October 13, 2005. The interior restoration
was completed shortly thereafter. - Terry
Jeanson |
The former Maverick
County Courthouse (1885) as it appeared in 1939
Photo courtesy TXDoT |
Historical Marker:
Maverick County
Courthouse
A landmark of the
Texas-Mexico border area. Built 1884-85, during term of county Judge
Thomas Lamb, on site chosen by citizens' committee, who donated $800
toward purchase of land from R.E. Moffit. Architects: Wahrenberger
and Beckman, San Antonio. Contractor: A local builder, William Hausser
(1847-1919). Courthouse and a jail were erected at total cost of $20,489.
This was site of celebrated Dick Duncan murder trial, 1889. Duncan,
accused of killing four members of a San Saba family he was escorting
to Mexico, was convicted on evidence gathered by Sheriff W.N. Cooke
and Texas Rangers Ira Aten and John R. Hughes. He was sentenced to
death by district Judge Winchester Kelso. Duncan appealed to state
and federal courts and gained national notoriety, but was hanged in
the county jail on September 18, 1891, in the only capital execution
ever carried out by Maverick
County.
Early jail
was replaced in 1949. A fine example of Victorian design, with crenelation
that suggests a fortress, the courthouse is a border structure with
great architectural significance. The clock
tower still holds its original E. Howard works and bell.
Marker dedicated in September 1971 to commemorate centennial of the
organization of Maverick
County.
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1971 |
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Maverick County
Courthouse Historical Marker
Photo coutesy Terry
Jeanson, October, 2005 |
Historic Photo
of Maverick County Courthouse and Jail
Courtesy Texas State Library and Archives |
| Above
photo of the the Maverick County Courthouse and Jail
illustrates a common story in Texas. Often the courthouse and jail
were built at the same time and often they were the first buildings
on a desolate landscape. Similar photos exist for El
Paso and Marfa
- where the buildings appear to be on the surface of the moon. |
Maverick County
Courthouse west entrance
Photo coutesy Terry
Jeanson, October, 2005 |
The restored
courthouse clock tower
Photo coutesy Terry
Jeanson, October, 2005 |
The courthouse's
clock tower.
Even though restored at one time,
it does not work now.
Photo coutesy Terry
Jeanson, December 2012 |
Courthouse interior
At the east entrance looking west
Photo coutesy Terry
Jeanson, December 2012 |
Maverick County
Courthouse district courtroom
Photo coutesy Terry
Jeanson, December 2012 |
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