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Caldwell County
Courthouse
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, 2008 |
The Present
Caldwell County Courthouse
- Lockhart, Texas
Date
of completion - 1894
Architect - Henry E. M. Guidon
Architectural Firm: Giles and Guidon
Contractor: Martin, Byrne & Johnston
Style - Second Empire
Material - Muldoon
blue sandstone, with Pecos red sandstone trim
See Historical
Marker |
The Texas Historical
Commission description states: "Most attribute its design to San
Antonio architect Alfred
Giles. However, it is more likely that Henri E. M. Guindon [sic]
is the architect."
Another entry on the THC website states: "plans were sold to Caldwell
County during [a] brief period when Guidon did not work with Giles,
same plans subsequently sold to Goliad
shortly after Guidon rejoined Giles practice, Giles later ads claimed
both Caldwell and Goliad as his." |
Caldwell County
Courthouse as it appeared in 1939
Photo courtesy TXDoT |
Caldwell County
Courthouse
Click on image to enlarge
Old
photo courtesy Dan
Whatley |
Caldwell County
Courthouse as it appeared in 1905
Courtesy of Texas Historic Commission |
The three story
building is constructed mainly from "Muldoon
Blue" sandstone quarried in Fayette
County. The popular stone was used in many other courthouses
and churches
across Texas.
Until its recent total restoration the building only went through
minor repairs and improvements. In 1969 the building received air
conditioning and had an elevator installed. In 1977 the district courtroom
was converted to office space, with the then-popular plastic paneling
and a dropped ceiling. The following year downspouts were replaced,
windows and doors were repaired and the stonework was repointed.
For many years the color scheme was "cream and green." The
nearby H.E.B. grocery matched the colors at the request of Lockhart's
City Council. The original colors were brought back during the recent
restoration. |
The courthouse
in cream and green
TE photo 2003 |
Caldwell County
Courthouse Historical Marker
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, April 2009 |
Historical Marker:
Caldwell
County Courthouse
The
first Caldwell County Courthouse was erected on this site in 1848,
when the county was organized and named for Mathew Caldwell, a Texas
Ranger and signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence. It
was replaced in 1858 by a 2-story limestone edifice, measuring
65 feet by 40 feet, with six offices and two rooms for storing records.
By 1893, that building had become too small for a growing county.
In April 1893, Judge George W. Kyser and commissioners J. H. Jolley,
g. A. McGee, C. R. Smith, and R. A. Tiller approved plans for the
present courthouse. The cornerstone was laid by Lockhart Lodge No.
690, A. F. & A. M., on August 15, 1893. Contractors Martin, Byrne,
and Johnston completed the building on March 19, 1894.
The 3-story structure is built of sandstone with red sandstone trim.
It displays the fine workmanship and elaborate detail common to architecture
of the period. the mansard roof is characteristic of the second empire
style that was often used for public buildings. The courthouse is
topped by a central clock tower, with additional towers at each corner
and flanking the north and south entrances. When it was built, the
structure was equipped with the latest conveniences of the day, including
electricity.
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1976 |
 |
Mural on the
Vogel Furniture building
a couple of blocks W of the courthouse
Photo
courtesy Terry
Jeanson, 2008
More Texas Murals |
Caldwell County
Courthouse and courthouse square
Photo courtesy of Paul Turner, October 2008 |
Metal capitals
on the couthouse's east entrance
TE photo 2003 |
Caldwell County
Courthouse in scaffolding
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, June 2013 |
Photographer's
Update:
Courthouse in Lockhart
"Only ten years after restoration, the roof needs major repair.
They are repainting all the cupolas, repairing rotted wood around
the windows and removing the mold and mildew stains. They also discovered
that the tower is twisted and tilting slightly to the east so they
want to repair that before the building becomes known as the "Leaning
Tower of Lockhart." Here is a photo of it in scaffolding that I took
today." - Terry
Jeanson, June 15, 2013 |
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