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Sterling County
Courthouse
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, December 2009 |
The Present
Sterling County Courthouse
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Sterling City, Texas
Date - 1938
Architect - David S. Castle
Style - Texas Renaissance
Material - Brick |
Sterling
County Courthouse as it appeared in 1939
Photo courtesy TXDoT |
Photographer's
Note:
One of the first things I look for when I go inside a county courthouse
is old pictures of the former courthouse or courthouses. The Sterling
County Museum was closed during my visit, so I hoped that I would
find some pictures inside the 1938 courthouse.
According to the THC, Sterling
County's first courthouse was designed by Oscar Ruffini in 1891.
Oscar
and his brother Frederick designed many Texas county courthouses
in the late 1800s. When a new courthouse was built in Sterling
County in 1905, the 1891 courthouse was turned into a hotel. I
found no pictures of either building inside the courthouse.
My search led me to the office of the Justice of the Peace. I talked
to the woman who was there (I'm assuming it was the Justice of the
Peace) but she didn't know about the 1891 courthouse. She told me
that the 1905 courthouse was very similar to the 1901
Irion County courthouse built (and still standing) in Sherwood,
the first Irion County
seat.
Although my search for pictures of previous Sterling County courthouses
came up empty on this trip, many courthouses in Texas proudly display
photos or drawings or paintings of previous courthouses that may no
longer be around but are still part of their county history. - Terry
Jeanson, August 9, 2008 |
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Sterling County
Courthouse plaque
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, August 2006 |
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Sterling
County Courthouse
Photo courtesy Ken
Rudine, August 2005 |
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