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Bastrop County, TX |
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BASTROP COUNTY COURTHOUSE
HISTORY Dedication
of Restoration Project Bastrop
County Celebration
honoring all Bastrop County Veterans & Troops July
4th Celebration DETAILED
ACCOUNT OF COURTHOUSE SITE 1829-Felipe
Enrique Neri, Baron de Bastrop died. Permanent
settlement began 1832-Grant
for the town of Bastrop was made consisting of four leagues on East
side of the Colorado River at San Antonio Road. 1836-3/17
Bastrop was one of the original 23 counties created. Population: 592 1836-Name
change from Mina back to Bastrop 1836-County
purchased building on lot (for the price of a slave girl and Mule)
from William Pickney Hill, restored and used them
as Courthouse And
clerk's office 1843-Stout
stockade was a necessity on the site of the present Courthouse And
when an "Indian alarm" was sounded by two small canons, the women, Children,
and old men rushed in while the able bodied men and boys Scoured
the county or met the Indians in their hiding place. Stockade Was
made of heavy logs implanted in the ground with loopholes for guns 1848-Courthouse,
Jail, and Female Academy to be built by proclamation 1852-Site
of Courthouse, block 7 east of Main Street, was purchased for $700
from Thomas T. J. Gazley, a signer of the Texas
Declaration of Independence.
Woden Courthouse built by Mr. Fitzgerald on present Site.
Courthouse stone foundation 50'x50' square with two Stories,
each 12' height, hip roof, hard pine interior and exterior Contents
of Courthouse cornerstone include: rusty box, 1843 Silver
dollar, 1850 half dollar, 1850 quarter, and 1851 dime. 1859-Construction
of first jail separate from Courthouse on present site Completed,
including residence for sheriff's family 1859-Public
well to built in May on Courthouse grounds 1872-January,
New roof installed, 1872-September,
Wood fence built. 1874-January,
Shade trees planted. 1877-New
Roof 1878-Cistern
and lightning rods to be installed 1878-November,
Grand Jury room built in courtyard
1883-1/11,
Courthouse burned down 1883-February,
Advertised for Courthouse plans in Houston and Galveston newspapers. 1883-6/29,
Cornerstone laid by Ganble Lodge #214,
A.F.&A.M., Grandmaster Joseph
D. Sayers officiating. Numerous relics were Placed
in cornerstone, such as full membership of the Gamble Lodge Names
and offices of Bastrop County officials and copies of the Bastrop Advertiser
and American Statesman. Address by Hon. G. W. Jones stated That
the burning was a " blessing in disguise, for from its ruins would Spring
a structure which all people can feel just and lasting
pride". Courthouse
to be built on single site for $30,000 budget, although Ruffini
estimated the building to be worth at $45,000 despite its $33,000
actual cost to the county. Contract was signed by Bastrop
County Judge Moore and builder John McDonald. Plans prepared by J.
N. Preston & F. E. Ruffini "expert
architect and superintendent." 1,383,512
bricks used. Most material for Courthouse supplied from Austin. All
caps and sills to doors and windows are Austin cut stone. "When Finished,
it was an architectural masterpiece, unrivaled anywhere in the State."
No plaster, but fine paneled ceiling with deeply projected, Highly
molded ribs (beaded board ceiling. Main staircase of black walnut Unrivaled.
Extra high wainscoting in courtroom and paneled ceiling to Make
finest district courtroom in the state. Blinds in all windows Bronze
hardware, encaustic tile floors, and several water closets will Be
first class. Dome was galvanized iron (fire proof), and roof was 14"
charcoal roofing tin. Double thick glass, three coats of paint everywhere.
Dome of elegant design with exterior galleries and balustrade clock
to cost $600. Porticos = stone steps, cast iron balustrade, cast iron
columns with Corinthian caps, galvanized iron cornices, balcony railing
urns. "No better porticos in the state" 1883-7/7,
Building description; Grand staircase to left upon entry.At time
of construction, staircase thought to be finest in state (black) walnut);
County Clerk's office to right upon entry: District Clerk to left
upon entry. County and District Clerk's office each were 88'-2" x20'-0"
(in extreme size): each has private office of 19'6" x 22'-4" and
each clerk's office has a large fire proof vault. Passing through arcade
of the interior section of the grand halls, the Treasurer's office is
on the left and collector's office is on the right. From the longi tudinal area entered
the offices of the assessor and sheriff. At one end of
the hall is a private stair for use and convenience of district judge, clerk,
and sheriff to conduct prisoners to the district courtroom. This feature
we deem of great importance. Treasurer's office: 20'-4" x 21'-0" Assessor's
office 20'-4" x 16'-2". Sheriff's office: 20'-0" x
16'-6". Upstairs
to right: district courtroom; to left is county courtroom. Third
story is grand jury room, surveyor's office, extra jury rooms, "classic
style with dome supported by Corinthian columns and galvanized iron
balustrade, and spun zinc. Skyline of the roof is beautifully broken
and relieved by the introduction of four pediments as gables and pavilions
at the four angles; also two louvers at the ridge line. Length 105'-0",
Width 65'-0". Height 101'-0"
1886-5/10,
"Sayers Rifles" military organization were allowed to use a room in
the Courthouse for an armory. 1891-Contract
for construction of new jail designed by Architect Eugene Heimer of
Houston, built by Martin, Byrne & Johnson, and jail cells contract awarded
to the Pauly Jail Company. Total cost was $15,312 1892-Windmill
built on Courthouse grounds. 1892-6/10,
One of first of several accounts of hanging inside the new jail. 1894-May,
New roof on Courthouse. 1894-Water
contract with Bastrop Water & Light Company 1897-Lighting
contract with Bastrop Water & Light Company 1898-July,
Roof to be painted 1899-Old
wood fence removed 1900-Telephone
installed in Courthouse 1903-Iron
fence built 1904-Stable
built for sheriff 1909-Contract
with Bastrop Water and Light to furnish utilities for Jail,
and Fountains 1917-November,
New floors laid in Courthouse 1923-Prior
to 1923 modification, there were four entrances with stone steps, case
iron balustrade, and cast iron columns with foliated Corinthian capitals.
No plaster used in the interior. (Nine sheets of drawings dated
16 July 1923) C. H. Page & Bros. Of Austin designed revisions costing
$45,000. Work included "new north and south portion to match west
entrance, new plaster over exterior brick walls, continuous copper cornice,
new interior wood doors, new copper clad dome using existing clock
with new lights, new interior wood toilet partitions, new interior wood
staircase, new exterior boiler house at southwest corner of building and
new metal roof to equal "Taylors Old Style Tin" 1923-October,
Hall floors of Courthouse to be of concrete Courthouse
dome lowered to modernize, removal of more decorative material
1925-Jail
extensively remodeled by Southern Steel Company of San Antonio
1934-Gas
heat pipes installed in Courthouse and Jail; paint on Courthouse 1936-Bastrop
American Legion place long range field artillery guns on the Courthouse
lawn, Baron de Bastrop monument erected 1941-Plans
for Agricultural Building in Courthouse yard authorized Third
floor of Courthouse to be used as jury dormitory and Negro jury Room
with bathrooms along edge 1941-12/8,
United States flag purchased for Courthouse 1942-German
machine guns and iron fence donated to U.S. government war effort 1944-Sidewalk
around Courthouse 1945-County
purchases annex for Courthouse from USO 1946-Plans
accepted and bids notice published for annex designed by PSP order
rejecting bids. Architects paid for plans 1947-USO
building on Courthouse grounds purchased 1953-Annex
burned (caused by defective wiring). Direction
of County Judge Bower Crider voted to build an adjoining Annex
to the Courthouse, reinforce the Courthouse where necessary,and Repaint
offices in soft pastel tones and halls in gray. Colors used In
rooms include eye-rest green, rose tan, suntone,
stratosphere gray, Warm
gray, and blue. Asphalt tile flooring was added
throughout and Woodwork
cleaned and refinished. PSP designed Courthouse addition and Was
constructed by James H. Jones Contractor. Among additions Work,
interior work of public restrooms in Courthouse completed. Annex
is light colored brick with central heat and "completely air Conditioned."
"Running ice water is another convenience available, And
a modern, roomy basement." 1964-Texas
Historical Commission designates Bastrop County Courthouse a National
Register Site 1972-2/23,
Report of jailbreak of 4 men and new regulations regarding safety
standards and prisoner welfare concerns prompt the immediate planning
of contruction of new modular jail. 1973-2/132,
Contract with Barnes, Lades, and Goodman for District Court
Building. 1974-Capital
Construction Co, Austin, Texas, contract for District Court building;
funding through revenue sharing. New Bastrop Co. Public Safety building
financed 75% grant from Texas Criminal Justice Council and LEA. Cleaning,
painting, and repair of exterior, Windows painted and cleaned, Halls
painted inside Courthouse. Some offices will get new vinyl floors And
carpet. "The finish on the outside will match the two new buildings In
the Courthouse complex" 1975-Bastrop
City Hall has map of 1921 showing buildings on the Courthouse Square. 1982-Expansion
of County Tax Assessor Collector and County Clerk office space,
meeting room, and first elevator in Bastrop County for handicap access.
Designed by Chuck Leonard of Smithville, including handicap access
ramp at south entrance at 9.5% construction cost fee 1990-Restoration
Project to Courthouse and Old Jail building.
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