Posted 10:24 am Monday, November 14, 2011
97-Year-Old Anderson County Courthouse An East Texas Landmark
PALESTINE — Its dome topped with a statute of the Goddess of Justice holding her scales and sword, the Anderson County Courthouse is a majestic structure highly visible from many areas of Palestine.
“The historically and architecturally significant building serves as a source of pride by county residents,” states a courthouse history published by Anderson County Historical Commission.
“The historically and architecturally significant building serves as a source of pride by county residents,” states a courthouse history published by Anderson County Historical Commission.
The history notes the exterior features giant Ionic columns and pedimented Greco-Roman style porticos on each facade, giving the impression of a Greek or Roman temple.
The most beautiful interior feature, the history states, is an open central atrium with twin large spiral staircases reaching from the basement to the third floor of the rectangular courthouse.
The most beautiful interior feature, the history states, is an open central atrium with twin large spiral staircases reaching from the basement to the third floor of the rectangular courthouse.
Having a circular atrium within a rectangular building created “closets” or niches on all four floors at each of the four corners which cannot be seen by the public, the courthouse history published by the historical commission points out.
“The closets at the southwest corner are said to be haunted,” the history states. “No one has actually seen a ghost, but curious sounds have emanated from that vicinity through the years,” the history adds.
“The closets at the southwest corner are said to be haunted,” the history states. “No one has actually seen a ghost, but curious sounds have emanated from that vicinity through the years,” the history adds.
The courthouse appears to have been constructed of limestone and brick, but the courthouse history states it is actually poured concrete on a brick foundation, with brick and terra cotta ornamentation. The gleaming dome has 12 Doric pilasters with panels between.
At the base of the rotunda is a large, circular art glass inset, notes the courthouse history. The motif of the stained glass dome emanates from a six-pointed star at the center and includes what appears to be stylized dogwood blossoms, the history states.
At the base of the rotunda is a large, circular art glass inset, notes the courthouse history. The motif of the stained glass dome emanates from a six-pointed star at the center and includes what appears to be stylized dogwood blossoms, the history states.
The staircases are wainscoted in black and white Georgia gray marble, while floors of the hallways are small hexagonal ceramic tiles in white and gray.
Designed in the Classical Revival architectural style, the courthouse took two years to construct and was completed in 1914. Extensive restoration of the courthouse was carried out in 1986 as a Texas Sesquicentennial project.
Designation of the courthouse as a National Historical Landmark limits any changes. The courthouse is now 97 years old, but County Judge Robert Johnston observed it looks the same as it always has.
However, there has been reconfiguration of some offices through the years to make them user friendly and modern. A big change planned next year, Johnston said, will convert some offices into a courtroom, while some county staff are being moved around in order to best utilize space and put them where they fit.
By the 1970s and 1980s, the courthouse became crowded with county records. The county resorted to storing records in the dome out of public view and then turned to storing records in other facilities, including the old Federal Building.
Eventually, the courthouse also ran out of space for county offices. A courthouse annex was constructed in 2005 and houses two courtrooms, the county auditor, county judge, treasurer, two justices of the peace, elections administrator, emergency manager, three constable offices and others.
The courthouse that has loomed over downtown Palestine for almost a century is actually the fourth courthouse in Anderson County's history.
There was no courthouse when the first session of court was held under oak trees back in July 1846 on the town square.
The following October, county commissioners initially ordered construction of a county jail and did not order construction of the first courthouse, which was a wooden building, until January 1847. In the meantime, county officials were housed in temporary quarters.
The second courthouse, according to the county historical commission, was a brick structure built between 1852 and 1856. That two story building with a tower or cupola in the center topped by a lightning rod was used for almost 30 years.
But by 1884, it had deteriorated to the point that an inspection concluded it was unsafe and should be torn down. The county rented a building where court was held until the third courthouse was constructed in 1885.
“This third courthouse should have served the county longer than it did,” states the courthouse history compiled by the county historical commission. But on Jan. 6, 1912, two men set fire to the building in an attempt to destroy evidence in the indictment of Percy Wynne for theft. But while the courthouse was seriously damaged, the evidence was in fireproof rooms
County officials then moved toward starting construction on July 7, 1912 of the fourth and current courthouse.
Designed in the Classical Revival architectural style, the courthouse took two years to construct and was completed in 1914. Extensive restoration of the courthouse was carried out in 1986 as a Texas Sesquicentennial project.
Designation of the courthouse as a National Historical Landmark limits any changes. The courthouse is now 97 years old, but County Judge Robert Johnston observed it looks the same as it always has.
However, there has been reconfiguration of some offices through the years to make them user friendly and modern. A big change planned next year, Johnston said, will convert some offices into a courtroom, while some county staff are being moved around in order to best utilize space and put them where they fit.
By the 1970s and 1980s, the courthouse became crowded with county records. The county resorted to storing records in the dome out of public view and then turned to storing records in other facilities, including the old Federal Building.
Eventually, the courthouse also ran out of space for county offices. A courthouse annex was constructed in 2005 and houses two courtrooms, the county auditor, county judge, treasurer, two justices of the peace, elections administrator, emergency manager, three constable offices and others.
The courthouse that has loomed over downtown Palestine for almost a century is actually the fourth courthouse in Anderson County's history.
There was no courthouse when the first session of court was held under oak trees back in July 1846 on the town square.
The following October, county commissioners initially ordered construction of a county jail and did not order construction of the first courthouse, which was a wooden building, until January 1847. In the meantime, county officials were housed in temporary quarters.
The second courthouse, according to the county historical commission, was a brick structure built between 1852 and 1856. That two story building with a tower or cupola in the center topped by a lightning rod was used for almost 30 years.
But by 1884, it had deteriorated to the point that an inspection concluded it was unsafe and should be torn down. The county rented a building where court was held until the third courthouse was constructed in 1885.
“This third courthouse should have served the county longer than it did,” states the courthouse history compiled by the county historical commission. But on Jan. 6, 1912, two men set fire to the building in an attempt to destroy evidence in the indictment of Percy Wynne for theft. But while the courthouse was seriously damaged, the evidence was in fireproof rooms
County officials then moved toward starting construction on July 7, 1912 of the fourth and current courthouse.
