We’re still waiting on repairs to the Spaceship Car. The length of time it is taking is not a surprise given the current state of supply chains around the country, but it is frustrating, nonetheless. Out of a sense of caution we are avoiding going on our normal adventures until we have a backup vehicle in the driveway.
So, I am going through old photos in order to document some of our past adventures. The difficulty is that, at the time that these photos were taken, we were not of the mindset that we would be reporting these things in any way to anybody. We did not focus on all of the details that we have since learned to seek out and appreciate.
Regardless, here are a few courthouse images from previous trips. Most of these were taken a few years ago.
In the summer of 2017 Kristi and I took a trip to Hallettsville, Texas, the seat of Lavaca County, and used it as a base for exploring the area. Before we left town, we explored the square and took pictures of the county’s magnificent courthouse.
This courthouse was constructed in 1897. Part of its design was inspired by the Allegheny County Courthouse in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. The building is constructed of limestone and features some beautiful, detailed adornments.
While exploring the square we were invited into the Hallet Oak Gallery by artist Aaron Riske. The gallery resides in the Kahn & Stanzel Building, which was built in 1890. The building served as a hardware store, a grocery store, and a bar before it underwent extensive renovations beginning in 1999. At some point the gallery moved in, and in 2014 the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Riske is a talented artist and an active member of the community. His works, as well as those of many other local artists, are on display and for sale in the gallery.
Our next stop on the trip was to the Fayette County Courthouse in nearby La Grange.
The Fayette County Courthouse was designed by James Riely Gordon, who is the same architect who designed the Kahn & Stanzel Building in Hallettsville. Gordon also designed the Wise County Courthouse in Decatur.
An atrium with seats and a fountain is located in the center of the building, but the courthouse’s most impressive feature is probably the district courtroom. Court was not in session, and a clerk invited us to go inside to take a look.
We visited the Lindsay Ranch in March 2019 and took some pictures around the square in Mason, Texas after eating at the Willow Creek Cafe & Club. Mason has, or rather had, a beautiful little courthouse. It was built in 1909. Sadly, a maniac decided it was a good idea to set fire to it as a distraction from another act of arson he had committed nearby. I’m glad that we got the few pictures that we did, though.
Each of the four sides of the building features a gabled portico supported by four two-story Doric columns. The columns were manufactured in Fort Worth, Texas and shipped by rail to Brady, Texas. From there, each column was loaded onto two wagons that were tied together, and then hauled by mule teams the remaining 30 miles to Mason. Lacking any heavy equipment to erect the columns, they were lifted into place using block-and-tackle, mules, and manpower.
The people of Mason County were proud of their courthouse, and its destruction struck deep into the community’s heart. “We are a poor county, but we are a proud and great county,” stated Mason County Judge Jerry Bearden in response to the incident.
Structural analysis revealed that the walls and columns of the building are still good, though, and the plan is to reconstruct it. If you would like to contribute to the project, contact the Friends of the Mason County Courthouse. You can also contribute by purchasing a copy of Good Times, Clay Lindsay: A Good Man from Mason, Texas, by Deloris Haley Lindsay. She is donating all proceeds from the book sale to the rebuilding fund.
I’ll wrap this post up with a few quick photos that we took of some more courthouses. Due to time constraints, we did not have time to stop and visit–the pictures were taken as we drove by. We hope to come back one day and explore these structures up close.
Thank you for including the Mason County Courthouse. Last week I was informed that we have collected about half of the $4,000,000 that we need to rebuild. Some work should start soon. A very large “Thank You” to everyone for your generosity.