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The
Bastrop County courthouse today, seen from the northeast corner.
Photo courtesy
Terry
Jeanson, December, 2007 |
The
Current Bastrop County Courthouse - Bastrop, TexasDate
- 1883
Architect - Jasper
N. Preston and F.E.
Ruffini
Style - Renaissance Revival remodeled into Neoclassical
Material
- Brick
The current Bastrop County courthouse was built in 1883, although
the building doesn't really look that old. It replaced the two-story 1852 courthouse
that burned in January of the same year.
Designed by Austin architect
Jasper
N. Preston with associate architect Frederick
E. Ruffini, the building was built of red brick and stone. The original design
of the building included pedimented gables over each entrance, decorative caps
on the corner pavilions, and a central clock tower with three tiers. In 1923,
the building was "modernized" by C.H.
Page and Bros. The original roof and pediments were removed, replaced with
a flat roof with parapets on the corners and over the entrances. The clock tower
was shortened and a copper cap was added. The entrance porticos were altered and
the brick was covered with a yellow-beige colored plaster. The interior was also
renovated at this time.
The courthouse now sits among modern annexes to
its south and southeast sides with the historic 1891
jail on its west side. Although there have been many changes to the courthouse
over the years, it has somehow not lost all of its original character and it continues
to serve as the center of the county government. - Terry
Jeanson |
 |
The
Bastrop County courthouse from the northwest corner.
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, December, 2007 |
Bastrop
County Courthouse as it appeared in 1939
Photo courtesy TXDoT |
The
southside of the courthouse with the 1950s and 1980s additions.
Photo courtesy
Terry
Jeanson, December, 2007 |
Front
entrance to the courthouse.
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, December, 2007 |
Confederate
memorial at the NE corner of the courthouse.
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, December, 2007 |
The
shortened clock tower with copper cap.
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, December, 2007 |
Bastrop
County Courthouse old postcard
Courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/ |
Bastrop
County Courthouse old postcard
Courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/ |
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