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Fire destroyed the the first courthouse which had been built in 1879; the second Rains County courthouse, the two-story brick building 1884, was destroyed by fire in 1908. The third courthouse was built on the same site by the Falls City Construction Co. of Louisville, Kentucky in 1909. This third, and present, courthouse was built in the form of a maltese cross with a flat roof. Several years later the dome was added.
The Grand Jury report for the spring of 1909 included the following: "According to your instructions we have spent a great deal of our time investigating the burning of our courthouse, as well as the other different fires that have occurred in town of Emory in the past few years. We have striven hard to locate the origin of said fires and all we can say is: We are not at all satisfied with the results of our investigations along this line. We wish to congratulate the Commissioners' Court upon their work in giving to Rains County one of the most beautiful and convenient courthouses in the State. They have certainly wrought well and we hope all our people will show their appreciation of the new building by endeavoring to keep it clean, sanitary and in every way to preserve it. We submit this report and ask to be discharged, R.J. Cooke, Foreman, S.H. Carter, Sec. (The Rains County Leader, May 28, 1909)
"Our young folks are talking of dedicating the new courthouse with a big ball before the courtroom is seated, but nothing definite has yet been announced." (The Rains County Leader, March 19, 1909).
By April 1909 the new courthouse was constructed and in use by county officials. "County Court has been in session in the new courthouse this week with Judge Rodes on the bench and County Attorney Humphrey at the helm." (The Rains County Leader, April 9, 1909) "It was ordered that the account of A.H. Andrews & Co., $1,900.00 for furniture, be allowed on the Court House Fund, payable in 9-1/2 months from date." (The Rains County Leader, May 14, 1909) "Judge W.H. Clendenin has rented the upstairs room in the southwest corner of the courthouse and is fitting him up a nice office." (The Rains County Leader, April 9, 1909)
Great pride and interest was taken in the preservation and care of the interior and exterior of the new county courthouse. "Judge Porter stated Monday that it was a violation of the law to spit on the floor, write on the walls or mutilate the furniture and he would fine anyone he caught violating the law. And he instructed the Sheriff to arrest and bring before him anyone found violating the law. Better 'be keerful Si.'" (The Rains County Leader, May 28, 1909) "Sheriff Morgan was circulating a subscription last Saturday to have the public square graded. About $100 had been subscribed, Emory ought to put up about $150 toward this work and then this county ought to add about $300 and fix up the square in good shape. It will add a great deal to the looks of the courthouse, and no one will say that the work is not needed." (The Rains County Leader, May 7, 1909)
Local citizens purchased unneeded buildings from the County for their personal use. "Lewis Ivie bought the little shed used as an office by the courthouse contractors and has moved it this week. He will convert it into a buggy shed." (The Rains County Leader, April 16, 1909) "W.C. Whittle has bought the little building on the north side of the courthouse from the County Judge and moved it out to his farm the first of the week, where he will use the lumber to make some improvements to his home. He paid $25 for it." (The Rains County Leader, June 25, 1909)
"The LEADER has printed a few hundred post card pictures of the court house, which can be bought at the drugstores, both in Emory and Point, at two for 5-cents. Call for them when hunting for cards. (The Rains County Leader, September 17, 1909).The New Court House
Last Saturday the new Court House was turned over to the county and our county officials have begun to arrange for
their new offices, which have been badly scattered since the destruction of the old court house ten and one half months ago.
Its a beautiful and substantial structure and would be a credit to any county with three times the population of this county.A brief description of the structure and the materials usedin its construction will be of interest to the reader and show that our citizenship have good cause to be proud of our countyhome. But first we produce the report of the architect employed
by the Commissioners' Court to inspect the building before it was received, which reads as follows:To the Honorable Commissioners Court of Rains County, Texas:
In compliance with your order, I inspected your new court house on April the 2nd, and submit to you the following report:
Material and workmanship in said building is practically inaccordance with plans, specifications and contract on the building, with exceptions as follows: Seven window sash out of balance. Parting stops of nearly all windows not nailed in. Two door locks out of commission. Head joints of floor not face nailed. The slate roof is apt to leak a little during rain storms on
account of the absence of heavy felt between slating and roof sheeting. However, this is no fault of the contractor, because
the specification does not call for it, neither does the plans show it.
Considering the building as a whole, the contractors are to be complimented on their good material and workmanship, and Rains County is to be congratulated on securing the best court house in the State of Texas of same cost. There is no question but what you have, in your court house, secured the best result for the least money.
Respectfrully Submitted,
Walter E. Taylor
Ft. Worth, Texas, Apr. 3(The defects above mentioned were made satisfactory before the building was received.)
The foundation and wall up to the windows is made of concrete, tied with steel rods. Above this the wall is made of the
beautiful gray fire-proof Ginger brick, at a cost of $29.00 per thousand, and the inside of the wall is made of the best grade of pressed brick. The wall is tied every few feet with steel rods which will keep it from cracking and protect it against the strongest wind. Inside it is finished with as much care and expense as the outside. There are nine offices on the ground floor, besides a large hall leading from the east to the west of the building and a hall from the southto the center. The building is well ventilated, having eighty-five windows in it. The floor in the lower story is made of concrete.
Upstairs is the court room and three jury rooms. Here we find a beautiful and spacious court room, with a balcony on the south side. This will be seated with 338 modern opera chairs. The floor of this room is made of planks over concrete. This concrete is made on steel beams with steel rods laid at an average of five inches apart, and is as solid as a rock. The room is ceiled with steel.
The building cost approximately $22,500.00, about $4,300 more than the insurance received from the old building. Its a
credit to our Commissioners' Cout and to our county, and the LEADER is proud of the new county home.The Rains County Leader, April 9, 1909