The county courthouse often serves as a historical anchor, offering a glimpse into the people, places and events that helped shape the dynamic heritage of the Lone Star State. Many counties have taken special measures to preserve the cultural integrity of their county capitols and create community events, such as fairs and festivals, that showcase their county’s unique attributes.
Twice each year County Progress spotlights a handful of these counties in a series we’ve titled Courthouse Trails. In March 2003, we paid a visit to Ellis, Grimes, Hopkins, Milam and Shelby counties. In August 2003, we continued on in Erath, Donley, Lampasas, Llano and Shackelford counties. February 2004 took us to the counties of Atascosa, Gray, Goliad, Parker and Red River. This month, we’ll journey to Hudspeth, Lee, Presidio, Sutton and Val Verde counties.
Hudspeth County Courthouse
This 1919 building is the only adobe courthouse in Texas. Architects Buetell and Hardie designed the building in a Mediterranean style reminiscent of Renaissance Revival. This is Hudspeth County’s first and only courthouse, originally built for about $35,000. Exterior renovation work included installing new piers for structural reinforcing of the foundation to support the 18-inch adobe walls. A new metal shingle roof was installed, and exterior stucco was removed and replaced. Additional projects included mechanical, electrical and plumbing upgrades, as well as installation of an elevator and fully accessible bathrooms. The courthouse was rededicated July 3.
This Far West Texas county offers scenic drives, hot springs, white sands, hunting, birding, and the beauty of Guadalupe Mountains National Park, complete with stunning canyons and unique plant life.
One of the most popular scenic drives entails a 43-mile stretch from Farm to Market Road 1111 N. to U.S. Highway 62/180. The landscape offers ranchland complemented by mountains on the horizon and stands of Yucca that reach up to 20 feet. The Yucca plants’ white clusters are especially prominent in March and April.
The county is home to Indian Hot Springs, which includes seven springs located in the flood plain of the Rio Grande. The water at the hottest spring, Stump Spring, is 117 degrees and is the highest temperature of spring water anywhere in Texas. Soda Springs offers the lowest temperature of Indian Hot Springs at a mere 81 degrees!
The county seat of Sierra Blanca is itself a tourist stop especially to travelers along Interstate 10. The city was created with the arrival of the Texas and Pacific and the Southern Pacific railroads. In fact, the town developed around the depot, built in 1882, and is now home to the Railroad Depot Hudspeth County Museum, featuring Indian artifacts, a history of the county, and railroad memorabilia.
Lee County Courthouse
The Romanesque Revival courthouse was completed in 1899 and designed by J. Riely Gordon. Its relative lack of ornamentation distinguishes it from Gordon’s earlier, more lavishly decorated courthouses. The courthouse still retains the majority of its historical integrity, but was threatened by lack of below-grade waterproofing and by basement flooding, resulting in spalling concrete. Most of the courthouse restoration project is complete with projects including repair of exterior masonry, restoration of the windows, and replacement/repair of mechanical systems. The county has moved back into the courthouse and currently is planning a rededication ceremony, slated for early October.
The county seat of Giddings and the collection of small communities that make up Lee County were built and maintained upon what one author has called “the traditions of industry, faith and honesty.”
Lee County offers the benefits of traditional, small-town living while simultaneously providing easy access to the state’s population centers. The county is a central location on major transportation routes between Houston, Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth and San Antonio.
The community plays host to a variety of special events throughout the year, including Lee County Junior Livestock Show in March, Lexington Homecoming the first full weekend in May, Fireman’s Fourth of July Picnic, Dime Box Homecoming & Mini Marathon in October, and the annual Lee County Go-Texan Scholarship Fun Day every fall.
Wendish Fest, the last Saturday in September, takes place in the historic community of Serbin. Activities include a Wendish heritage worship service, brass band, cross-cut saw contest, corn shucking and pea shelling, to name a few.
The Lee County Fair & Rodeo, the third weekend in May, features the Texas State Noodle Cookoff. In fact, House Resolution No. 12, passed by the 74th Legislature, designated this event as “the official noodle cookoff” of the Lone Star State.
Presidio County Courthouse
The 1887 Second Empire style courthouse with Italianate details is the design of James H. Britton. This courthouse, the county’s one and only, is one of the best-preserved courthouses in the Lone Star State. It was originally fashioned with locally made brick. The interior and the overall exterior form and detailing remain remarkably intact. The building’s most significant alterations occurred in 1915 and 1925 with the plaster coating of the exterior porous brick. The renovation/restoration project included site repairs, ADA modifications, full roof, dome and statue restoration, and updated systems. The courthouse project was completed in the spring of 2000.
Marfa, the county capital, is described as a “creative haven” attracting writers, artists and architects who wish to develop their trades in a peaceful setting. In fact, every October, international art enthusiasts make way to Marfa to visit the home of Donald Judd, an acclaimed American artist.
The city lies between three mountain ranges and is known for the Marfa Mystery Lights, an enigma that fascinates onlookers nearly every night. The lights were first recorded by early settlers in 1883 and are best seen from a viewing area approximately nine miles east of Marfa on U.S. Highway 90. While numerous theories have been explored, there is no official explanation for the phenomenon.
In the 1950s, Marfa was the location for the filming of “Giant” starring James Dean, Elizabeth Taylor and Rock Hudson. Memorabilia can be viewed at the Presidio County Museum and the Hotel Paisano.
Located in far West Texas, Presidio County is home to some of Texas’ tallest mountains. The Big Bend terrain is sought out by hikers, rock hounds, bird watchers, and shutterbugs. The area’s ecosystem supports a vast array of wildlife, including the mountain lion and pronghorn antelope. Sportsmen frequent the area to hunt deer, quail and dove.
Sutton County Courthouse
Designed by Oscar Ruffini, a prominent architect from San Angelo, the 1891 courthouse exemplifies the Second Empire style. The design is based on the 1884 drawings of the Blanco County Courthouse by Oscar’s brother, F.E. Ruffini. The building was fashioned of limestone and dressed with stone. The courthouse renovation/restoration project includes waterproofing, wood window work, and the repair and replacement of deteriorated elements of the building envelope. Phase One of the project, including outside and structural work, has been completed. The total project is scheduled for completion in August or September 2005.
The county seat of Sonora was settled in 1889, after a water well was drilled on what is now the courthouse lawn. The city’s history tells of the taming of the Old West, with tales of frontier trades, cattle rustling, and brave pioneers. The Miers Home Museum is the perfect place to visit if you want to learn how it all began.
The Santa Fe Depot, now known as the Old Depot, was built in 1930 and linked Sutton County to the rest of the nation. The depot, which includes an outdoor amphitheater, was renovated into a meeting place for the community.
The area boasts a number of attractions including the Caverns of Sonora, which house one of the most beautiful and unusual caves in the country. More than 90 percent of the formations in the cave are still growing, making it one of the most active natural caves in the world.
Because Sutton County is located where the Texas Hill Country merges with the Chihuahuan Desert, it is home to a unique array of plant and animal life. The Eaton Hill Wildlife Sanctuary, a 35-acre park, features rock art placed along its trails, identifying the plants and marking wildlife sightings.
Val Verde County Courthouse
The Val Verde County Courthouse is an 1887 design by Larmour & Watson. The existing metal roof with central dome is a 1915 alteration to the original Second Empire style. The limestone masonry building has many classical details including triangular pediments and dentils. The restoration included the cleaning and patching of the exterior masonry, as well as the inclusion of replicated hardware and the rebuilding of the 1915 exterior masonry porches at all four entries. An audio-visual system was installed in the courtroom, which was returned to its 1915 configuration by moving the jury box to the opposite side of the judge’s bench. The courthouse was rededicated July 23.
Known as a gateway to Mexico, Val Verde County is home to Lake Amistad, offering 67,000 acres of water along 540 miles of U.S. shoreline and touted as one of the largest, clearest lakes in the Lone Star State. The lake is fed by the Pecos, Rio Grande and Devil’s rivers, with limestone deposits and solid earth providing a sterling, deep turquoise quality.
The Amistad Recreation Area offers not only boating and houseboating, but also nature hikes, fishing, camping and waterskiing. Birdwatchers flock to the area and are treated to more than 320 species of birds, including migratory tropical species.
Tourists also are drawn to the Val Verde County seat of Del Rio, home of the Whitehead Memorial Museum. Attractions include a replica of Judge Roy Bean’s Jersey Lilly Saloon and an authentic frontier log cabin.
Finally, the county is home to the Val Verde Winery, which in 2003 marked its 120th year of continuous winemaking. The Val Verde Winery is the oldest bonded winery in the state of Texas and the only winery operating in Texas from the late 1950s to the 1970s.
The Winery received the Land Heritage Award from the Department of Agriculture for single-family ownership of the vineyards for more than 110 years.
Information provided by the Texas Historical Commission, and compiled by Julie AndersonAnderson, Julie – Sept.04