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Texas County Progress

The Official Publication of the County Judges and Commissioners Association of Texas

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Monuments of Justice: Collingsworth County Courthouse

June 1, 2012 by Julie Anderson

County Seat: Wellington * County Population: 3,057 (2010 U.S. Census)

 

 

The Collingsworth County Courthouse was built in 1931 in a Texas Renaissance style with brick and stone accents, as designed by Berry & Hatch Architects.

A bit of controversy surrounded the initial county capitol, finally erected in 1893, as described by June Rayfield Welch in “The Texas Courthouse Revisited.”

There had been a strong opposition to building the courthouse. T.D. Hobart wrote of a crowd confronting the board of equalization. A rumor that they intended to hang the judge and two commissioners caused the officials to bring six-shooters. The protestors argued that large sums should not be spent on the public buildings while taxpayers lived in dugouts. The leader announced that if the courthouse was built, ‘under each corner of it we will bury the political remains of a county commissioner; in the center under the dome that you propose to erect yonder, we will bury the political remains of the judge.’

The protest was ignored, and cement from Quanah was used to construct the temple of justice, which boasted a tower, spire and balcony and was greatly admired by local citizens. The building remained in service until the current courthouse was completed for $150,000.

Collingsworth County was named after James Collinsworth, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence and the first chief justice of the Republic of Texas. However, due to a legislative error, the middle “g” was added to the county’s name.

The county seat of Wellington refers to a tract of the Rocking Chair Ranch, located within the county and owned by an English peer who was inspired by the Duke of Wellington.

Collingsworth County offers several unique attractions:

  • Pioneer Park is located seven miles north of the Wellington town section by the Salt Fork Red River Bridge on Highway 83.  The park attracts overnight campers with 16 hookups, complete restrooms, barbecue pits, and covered picnic tables.
  • The recently removed Salt Fork Red River Truss Bridge was built in 1939 and was one of the few remaining truss bridges in Texas.  The bridge site is near the original location where Bonnie Parker and Clyde and Buck Barrow brought action to Collingsworth County in 1933.  A local family watched from their front porch as a speeding car driven by the outlaws missed a detour and plunged into Salt Fork Red River.  When the local county sheriff and city marshal arrived, outlaws shot out the tires on their vehicle and kidnapped the two; they were later found near Sawyer, Okla., where they were left tied to a tree with barbed wire.  The historical marker located at the Salt Fork Red River Bridge tells the story of the outlaws.  Buck Barrow was killed six weeks later, and Bonnie and Clyde were killed in an ambush a year later.
  • The Collingsworth County Museum is housed in three historic buildings across the street from the courthouse.  The buildings contain the art center featuring work of local artists and special exhibits.  The main collection of historical items includes oil paintings depicting the settlement of the county from the days of buffalos to tractors.
  • The recently restored Ritz Theatre is located in downtown Wellington. The theater was built in 1928 and is one of the finest small-town theaters in the Lone Star State.

Other special attractions include the Wellington Activity Center, home to a variety of activities and community functions, and the Wellington Fairgrounds.

 

COUNTY JUDGE

John A. James

 

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Precinct 1

Dan Langford

 

Precinct 2

Mike Hughes

 

Precinct 3

Eddie Orr

 

Precinct 4

Kirby Campbell

 

Filed Under: Monuments of Justice Tagged With: Collingsworth County, courthouse

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