Denton County Courthouse
Public Sq., Denton, TXThe Denton County Courthouse possesses both architectural and historic significance. In Romanesque style, one of Texas' most prominent nineteenth-century architects created a building with extraordinary richness incorporating a combination of forms that is similar in concept to many other courthouses but unique in composition. Since the founding of Denton, the public square on which this temple of justice is located has been the focus of political activities in the county and the present courthouse has been the center of local government for three-quarters of a century.
Denton, the county seat of Denton County, was established in 1857 and named, as was the county, in honor of John B. Denton, whose remains are buried on the courthouse lawn. On a hundred acres of land donated by Hiram Cisco, William Loving and William Woodruff, the fourth county seat of Denton County were established and lots were sold at public auction on January 10, 1857. The first courthouse was a frame building on the. north side of the square. It burned in 1875 and was replaced by a brick structure designed and built by J.H. Britton in 1876-1877. The building was located in the center of the town square.
After twenty years of service, this structure ceased to be satisfactory and public pressure mounted for the construction of a new courthouse. On February 16, 1895, the Fort Worth Daily Gazette reported that "several parties secreted on the upper stairway supplies of barrels, coal scuttles, bricks and the like, and at a given signal turned them all loose down the stairs creating a fearful state of mind of those familiar with the conditions of things."
On July 3, 1895, the Commissioners' Court authorized the construction of a new building specifying "the Romanesque style of Architecture for the Denton County Courthouse as shown in the design prepared by Architect J. R. Gordon." A subsequent study of Gordon's plans resulted in his discharge for some reason not recorded. The commission was then awarded to architect W.C. Dodson who was ordered to prepare plans, specifications and details, as well as to supervise construction by contractor Tom Lovell. Dodson was to receive a 5% commission based on the cost of the building which was $100,000.00.
Completed in 1896, the courthouse continues to serve its original function.
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1977.
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.