The County
Situated on the eastern border of Texas, Newton County is 167 years old and has one of the oldest completely restored courthouses in Texas.
The county is beautified with towering pines and sparkling lakes and springs, numerous types of wildflowers, a rare magnolia, and a variety of rare species of trees.
Fishermen, campers, hikers, hunters and bird-watchers frequent Newton County, which is on the flyway of a number of bird and butterfly species including Hummingbirds and Monarch butterflies.
Toledo Bend Lake is located at the north end of the county and supports fishing, camping, water skiing, and other water sports with locations to eat and buy provisions. Whispering Creek Motel and RV Park is a center for birdwatchers, fishermen, hikers and hunters. Swimmers enjoy the crystal clear waters of Artesian Springs, and Caney Creek Park draws a large crowd of visitors around Christmas with train rides through the beautifully decorated park.
Steeped in history, the county has numerous historical churches, cemeteries, homes, bridges and buildings still in use such as the Cade Building in Burkeville, the W.H. Ford Male and Female College in Newton, and Watson’s Chapel in Bleakwood.
The Deweyville Swing Bridge on Texas 12 over the Sabine River was dedicated in 2012. This bridge along with the West Log House, the Newton County Courthouse, Burr’s Ferry Bridge, and the Odom Family Homestead are listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
A large part of the moving force for restoration of the places and buildings in the county is the Newton County Historical Commission located in the Iris and Anne Howard Community Center on Court Street in Newton. Open five days a week from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., visitors are welcome to seek information at the Commission or at the Welcome Center located in Caney Creek Park.
The Courthouse
In August of 2000, the Newton County Courthouse burned to the ground while a crowd of grieving Newton citizens watched. She had been a part of their lives since before any of them were born. When reconstruction began, it was with the oversight and assistance of the Texas Historical Commission, took 12 years to complete, and cost $6 million.
The county capitol is a replica of the 1904 courthouse: a three-story, Second Empire-style edifice with an unusual truncated clock tower, mansard roof, and corner quoins with features of its Second Empire style reflecting French Napoleon influence. This building was originally built by contractors Martin & Moody of Comanche from brick made on nearby Caney Creek. When the building burned, the outside walls were still standing and in good shape.
In April 2005, Marcel Quimby Preservation Architecture, Inc., was hired to assume architectural duties and work with the Texas Historical Commission (THC). In October 2006, the court selected J.R. Jones Construction as contractor.
Restoring unique items such as pressed tin ceilings and god door knobs with historically correct replicas presented various problems. For many items, there were only pictures of scorched pieces for reference. Manufacturers produced and then installed mockups on-site for approval by the architect and the THC. The stairs and trim inside are wooden, same as before the fire. The only real difference is the elevator, as the stairs are steep and can be a problem for the handicapped.
In 2009, a major event in the outside restoration occurred when the bell/clock tower was hoisted in place by a huge crane. The tower was manufactured as a complete aluminum unit and trucked in from Utah, replacing the clock and bell which had crashed to the ground inside the courthouse when it burned. The old cracked bell and clock face are now on display at the old well site on the north side of the courthouse square.
The air conditioning system is geothermal making it very efficient.
The courthouse stands now in the center of the town as a glowing example of what can be done with determination and patience. The restoration and rededication were completed in December of 2012.
– By Jonnie Miller, Chair, Newton County Historical Commission
