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Texas | Architecture | Courthouses

COLORADO COUNTY COURTHOUSE
County Seat - Columbus, Texas

Colorado County has had four courthouses:
1836, 1847, 1855 and 1891

Book Hotel Here › Columbus Hotels
TX - Colorado County Courthouse south side
Colorado County Courthouse
Texas Historic Landmark

Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, January 2012

The Present Colorado County Courthouse -
Columbus, Texas

Date - 1891
Architect - Eugene Heiner
Style - Renaissance Revival

The Colorado County Courthouse is a Eugene Heiner design from 1891. There have been a total of four courthouses, the first being built in 1836.
One courthouse was to be of pine harvested in Bastrop and floated down the Colorado, but high water sent the wood floating right past Columbus (and not a few surprised carpenters).
TX - Colorado County Courthouse Historical Marker
Colorado County Courthouse
Historical Marker

Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, February 2005
Historical Marker:

Colorado County Courthouse

This classic revival building--erected in 1890-1891 in form of a Greek cross--is now one of 28 oldest existing courthouses in Texas' 254 counties.

Contractors Martin, Byrne & Johnson built the structure of brick and Belton stone. Local Masonic Lodge laid cornerstone.

In 1909 a tornado severely damaged building. Large bell in cupola-clock tower fell 120 feet and was completely buried in the earth. $15-a-month job of clock-winder was subsequently canceled. During repairs, present copper dome was added. In 1939 entire building was remodeled.
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1969
Columbus Texas Colorado County Courthouse Texas 1939  vintage photo
Colorado County Courthouse in 1939 showing dome
Photo Courtesy TXDoT
Colorado County Courthouse with the clock tower
Photo Courtesy Nesbitt Memorial Library
X - Colorado County Courthouse
Southeast corner of the Colorado County courthouse.
Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, January 2012
Photographer's Note:

Courthouse Restoration:

"The exterior restoration was completed in 2011 which included the restoration of the colors on the trim and the brick, cleaning up of the copper dome and removal of the south side additions. A courthouse restoration grant awarded to the county in January 2012 will go to more restoration work on the interior." - Terry Jeanson, January 2012

"The interior looks the same, basically, but the walls in the main hallways and the courtroom have been painted green. They restored all the woodwork and overhauled the electricity and plumbing. (The basement bathrooms also are a huge improvement.) The clockworks, which used to be in the main hallway, are now in a room to the right of the west side entrance." - Terry Jeanson, May 17, 2014
X - 1909 Colorado County Courthouse
"This inscription appears in the pediments on all sides."
Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, January 2012
X - Colorado County Courthouse dome
Colorado County Courthouse dome
Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, January 2012
See Colorado County courthouse skylight
TX - Colorado Courthouse Dome Restoration
Courthouse dome under restoration
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, October 2009
TX - Colorado County Courthouse  cornerstone
1890 Colorado County Courthouse Cornerstone
Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, January 2012
See Texas Cornerstones
 TX - Colorado County Courthouse 1890 cornerstone ceremony marker
1890 Cornerstone Ceremony Marker
Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, January 2012
Columbus TX ColoradoCounty Courthouse with Horse & Buggy
Another early view of the Colorado County Courthouse
Photo courtesy Nesbitt Memorial Library
Columbus Texas courthouse square vintage photo
A view from the NE corner of the Columbus courthouse square
Photo courtesy Nesbitt Memorial Library
Girl strolling Teddy bear on the Courthouse lawn, Columbus Texas vintage photo
Girl strolling Teddy on the Courthouse lawn
1915 photo courtesy Nesbitt Memorial Library
TX Colorado County Courthouse Courtroom
Colorado County Courthouse courtroom
Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, April 2008
TX - Colorado County Courthouse stained glass dome
Colorado County Courthouse Skylight
Photo by Barclay Gibson, 2005
TX - Colorado County Courthouse skylight
View of the courtroom skylight from the other side (the attic)
Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, May 2014
TX Colorado County Courthouse Courtroom
Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, April 2008
TX Colorado County Courthouse Courtroom Skylight
Colorado County Courthouse Courtroom Skylight
Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, April 2008
See Courthouse Skylights
TX - Colorado County Courthouse stained glass dome hanging fixture

"I've photographed this, my favorite Texas courtroom, many times. It wasn't until a week or two ago that I had an opportunity to climb a 12' stepladder and get REAL close to this wonderful hanging fixture under the "Tiffany style" dome." - Jim King, September 2007

Columbus Tx -  Courthouse Clock Works
The clockworks in the main hallway
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, October 2009

Courthouse Restoration

TX - Colorado Courthouse Restoration
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, October 2009
TX - Colorado Courthouse Restoration
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, October 2009
TX - Colorado Courthouse Restoration - Clock face
Does anybody really know what time it is?
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, October 2009
TX - Colorado Courthouse Restoration - Clock face
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, October 2009
Court Oak
See also
  • Columbus Court Oak
  • Columbus Courthouse Magnolias
  • Courtroom with stained glass dome
    The beautiful stained glass dome was covered up with a false ceiling for many years
    Photo Courtesy Colorado County Visitors Bureau
    See Columbus, Texas
    Colorado County
    More Texas Courthouses

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