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Lee County Courthouse
as it appeared in 1939
Photo
courtesy TXDoT |
The Present
Lee County Courthouse
- Giddings, Texas
Date: 1899
Architect J.
Riely Gordon
Style: Romanesque Revival
Material: Brick
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark
The courthouse is between Hempstead and Richmond Street on Main
in Giddings; one block from the busy
intersection of highway 77 and 290. This 1899 structure is completed
one year after the Comal
County Courthouse in New Braunfels. Gordon designed them both.
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Lee
County courthouse historical Marker
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, November 2004 |
Historical Marker
Lee County
Courthouse
Designed by J.
R. Gordon along lines similar to New York State Capitol and several
buildings at Harvard University. Classified as Richardsonian Romanesque
style, after the famous Louisiana-born architect Henry H. Richardson.
Built by Sonnefield, Emmins and Abright of San
Antonio, 1899. Replaced first courthouse, which burned 1897. Located
on crest of divide separating the Colorado and Brazos River basins.
1968 |
Lee County
Courthouse Photos
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Photographer's
Note:
"This courthouse has been restored under the Texas Historical
Commission's Courthouse Preservation Program. It was rededicated on
October 8, 2004." - Terry
Jeanson
"During my last visit in 2010, I was told by someone at the courthouse
that water seepage under the foundation is what led to the severe
cracking in the walls that I was seeing all around the building. An
emergency grant of over $800,000 was awarded to Lee
County by the Texas Historical Commission in January of 2010 towards
the repair of the foundation problems plaguing the building."
- Terry
Jeanson, October 1, 2013. |
The rear side
of the courthouse. The two-story district courtroom is in this part
of the building on the upper two floors.
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, December 2007 |
Lee County courthouse
at dawn
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, April 2005 |
Lee County Courthouse
Postcard
courtesy rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/ |
The restoration
of the courthouse's clock tower included changing the previous white
clock faces to black.
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, Dec. 2007 |
"Lee County
courthouse district courtroom.
At the time I took these pictures, someone in the courtroom told me
that the color of the walls and the painted patterns were culturally
significant to the Wends,
a Slavic people from eastern Germany, who were early settlers to this
part of Texas."
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, January 2006 |
A view of the
judge's pulpit from the upper gallery.
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, January 2006 |
Lee County Courthouse
and courthouse grounds
Postcard
courtesy rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/ |
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