| |
The 1906 Hartley County Courthouse
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, March 2008 |
 |
Historical
Marker TexasHartley
County CourthouseHartley
County was created in January 1891, and an election held that year designated
the town of Hartley as county
seat. A frame courthouse was built on the town square.
In October 1896,
largely due to XIT
Ranch interests, a second election was held which resulted in the removal
of the county seat to Channing. The frame courthouse
was dismantled and moved to the new county seat, where it was reconstructed.
In
May 1905 the commissioners court approved the construction of a new courthouse.
Contracts were awarded to Solan & Wickens, contractors, and O. G. Roquemore, architect.
The 2-story, structure was completed in October 1906 at a cost of $10,525. The
beaux arts style building features a triumphal arch on the front facade, native
sandstone base, and Roman Ionic paired columns. When completed, the top story
provided a courtroom and two offices, and there were five offices and a lobby
on the first floor. At the time of construction, the building was served by its
own water well and lighting system. A vault was added to the county clerk's office
in 1927. A second vault and jury dormitories were built in 1935.
Recorded
Texas Historic Landmark, 1987. |
 |
Hartley County courthouse historical marker
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, July 2009 |
Hartley County Courthouse Fenced Entrance
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, March 2008 |
Hartley
County Courthouse vintage photo
Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/ |
Hartley
County Courthouse as it appeared in 1939
Photo courtesy TXDoT |
Hartley County Courthouse today
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, July 2009 |
|
"Paired Ionic columns and a "triumphal" arch decorate the front entrance."
- Terry
Jeanson, March 2008 photo |
|
"A simple placard over the front entrance, one of the many sandstone details
offsetting the building's red brick facing." - Terry
Jeanson, 2008 photo |
Courthouse front entrance details
Photo courtesy Terry
Jeanson, March 2008 |
|
"The second floor district courtroom maintains much of the original details
and furnishings, including the ornate metal pressed ceiling." - Terry
Jeanson, March 2008 photo |
1936 Centennial
Highway Marker - Hartley - U.S.
87 Hartley CountyFormed
from Young and Bexar territories: Created, August 21, 1876. Organized, February
5, 1891. Named in honor of two brothers, Oliver Cromwell and Rufus K. Hartley.
Distinguished members of the Texas Bar. Hartley, the county seat.
(1936) |
Hartley County
Jail
"The
current Hartley County jail was built in 1906, at the same time as the current
courthouse and with the same materials. It is still in use today.
The
privately owned 1892 brick and
sandstone jail in the first county seat of Hartley
also still stands." - Terry
Jeanson, March, 2008 | |
|
