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Caldwell
County Courthouse
County Seat - 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
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The
Caldwell County Courthouse c. 1905
Courtesy The Texas Historic Commission |
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| 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." |
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Metal
capitals on the couthouse's east entrance. |
| 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." |
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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.
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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. |
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