National Register Listing

Falls County Courthouse

1 Courthouse Sq, Marlin, TX

County courthouses are the preeminent building type associated with local government in Texas and are often the most prominent and sophisticated buildings of the counties in which they stand. The Falls County Courthouse (1939) in Marlin, Texas, stands as both an outstanding architectural achievement and the seat of county government. The building meets criterion A, in the area of Politics/Government at the local level, as the continued center of county government since 1939, and as a project partially funded by the Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works (FEAPW, renamed PWA and placed under Federal Works Agency in 1939). The courthouse is also nominated under Criterion C, in the area of Architecture, at the local level, as an excellent example of a concrete Art Moderne building by Dallas architect Arthur E. Thomas.

Falls County and the Establishment of the Marlin

Falls County is located in Central Texas, surrounded by Limestone, Robertson, Milam, Bell, and McLennan counties. Marlin, the largest town and county seat, is 24 miles south of Waco and 121 miles south of Dallas. An initial visit by Americans to the area in 1819 failed to result in a permanent settlement. In 1825 the area was included in the grant to Robert Leftwich of the Texas Association, a group from Nashville, Tennessee which requested permission from Mexico to settle the area, but new laws prevented settlement until the early 1830s. The area served as hunting grounds for several tribes, including the Wacos, Tawakonis, Anadarkos, and, by the 1830s, the Cherokees. Sterling C. Robertson began bringing American settlers to his Nashville colony (later called Robertson's colony) in 1834-35. In 1833 Robertson established the colony capital Sarahville de Viesca, four miles southwest of present-day Marlin. 13 Fort Viesca (established in 1834 and renamed Fort Milam in December 1835) was built for the protection of the settlers. After reaching a population of approximately 200, the community was abandoned in 1836 as a result of Indian hostilities and the approach of the Mexican army.

After Texas' decisive victory at the Battle of San Jacinto in 1836, settlers returned to the Fort Milam area, only to face a series of hostilities with Native Americans in the area. In 1839, the Texas legislature authorized armed patrol of the region, and conflicts with Indians soon ceased, with peace officially declared in 1845. On January 28, 1850, the state legislature formed Falls County (named after falls on the Brazos River) from Limestone and Milam counties. The settlers of Falls County came from the slaveholding South, primarily Mississippi, Tennessee, and Alabama. According to the 1860 census, the county had 504 farms and 1,716 slaves (47 percent of the total population). Falls County boasted a diverse agricultural economy, relying less on cotton than other Texas counties (only 2,030 bales harvested in 1860), and a large wool crop, with 17,500 pounds produced in 1860, the highest in Falls County history. Cattle remained important livestock through the 19th century.

The Texas Legislature designated Viesca the county seat when Falls County was created on January 28, 1850, but no county courthouse was ever built there. By the act of the Texas legislature, the county was allowed to hold an election on January 21, 1851, to allow them to make their own selection of a county seat location". The first Falls County Courthouse was constructed in the new town of Adams, later renamed Marlin in 1855, in honor of John Marlin, a noted pioneer. There have been a total of five courthouses, with the current courthouse and three predecessors at the same location on Courthouse Square in the City of Marlin".

Marlin was incorporated in 1867. The Houston and Texas Central Railway completed its line in 1871, and the population of Marlin tripled from 500 to 1,500 the following decade. In 1901 a second railroad, the International-Great Northern, laid its tracks into town and dredged a lake in what became the City Park. In 1892, hot mineral water was found during the search for an artesian well. Dr. J. W. Cook promoted Marlin as a health center, and numerous bathhouses, including the Bethesda Bathhouse, Majestic Bathhouse, Imperial Hotel, and Torbett Hospital soon sprang up. For the next fifty years, Marlin geared its economy to the health industry. In 1925 Dr. Frank H. Shaw built a crippled children's clinic, providing treatment and therapy for handicapped children, including victims of polio and arthritis, utilizing the hot mineral water in a swimming pool. Shaw's hospital closed after World War II.

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Early Falls County Courthouses

1851-1855

The City of Marlin was originally referred to as Adams, a location near the home of Dr. Allensworth Adams and Adams Spring. The home of Dr. Adams was located at 305 Ward Street, a few hundred yards north of the current courthouse Square. The only information on the original Falls County Courthouse comes from a photograph by J.R. Kirkpatrick on which he had printed, "Falls County's first court house. Built in 1851. The photograph was of a log cabin but included no indication of where the exact location was. A tradition left by the early pioneers of Falls County says that the log cabin stood on the grounds, which later became known as the courthouse Square23. On May 5, 1851, the County Commissioners, seeking "a dignified place of business" ordered that the new Courthouse Square "...shall be One Hundred Twenty Yards Square..." and tracts "...running north and south, east and west..." to be 60 feet wide. The courthouse fence, and later curb, was set back from the 60-foot wide street to allow for "...more hitching and parking space around the square."24 The 1851 courthouse square resembles the square of today, but no records indicate that it is the same one. This first courthouse was ordered sold to the highest bidder in 1855.

1855-1870

Commissioners Court records show that on November 1853 the Court stated that "... on the first day of February 1854, there will be a letting of a contract to build a courthouse in the town of Marlin." The courthouse was a 40' x 40' square two-story building with 8' wide corridors along both center axes' dividing the bottom floor into 4 identical rooms. The upper floor was divided into two jury rooms on one half and a large courtroom on the other half. There were to be four chimneys in the building with each having two fireplaces. This would allow for one fireplace in each of the six rooms and two fireplaces in the courtroom. The courthouse was to be made of Merchant table brick 20 feet high, plain plank, and "... covered with good heart lumber or cedar."26 Other county records call for 5' wide corridors on the bottom floor with the entire second floor to be used as the courtroom. Records also add "...four inside doors and eight windows below and 12 above; also four outside doors to close the galleries; the windows to have good Venetian blinds and to have a cupola on top of the said house; also have stairs running from the center of said house to the wall."

The Building Records show that $5,000.00 was appropriated for the new courthouse on June 3, 1854. The roof was to be made of zinc and the building was to be provided with "...good seats and judge-stands, tables, ...with all the necessary conveniences for a courthouse." The contract was awarded to Cremer and Arnold in 1854 and construction was completed in the middle of 1855. The courthouse was made of cedar and changes to the plans caused the cost of the courthouse to exceed the original $5000.00; the State Legislature released 90% of the State's tax for 1854 for construction. This money and additional funding from a wealthy farmer, Churchill Jones, allowed the county to proceed with the construction of the more expensive courthouse. The courthouse was whitewashed and painted and a fence and a well were added to the property. The last surviving recorded meeting is dated January 4, 1868.

Sometime between this date and November 24, 1872, the courthouse burned. A casualty of Reconstruction, at one time rumors that the courthouse would be burned, prompted the Court to remove important records and place them in a "more secure" building on the courthouse Square. The speculated cause of the fire ranges from an accident to a man burning it for $15.00.

1870-1876

After the fire destroyed the second courthouse, records indicate that the county rented space for the County government. There are various "...references to 'orders to pay William Killebrew' certain amounts for 'rents for jury room." During this time they also appointed a committee of three men to "...prepare a plan or plans for a new courthouse."33 The cost of the new courthouse was not to exceed $15,000 and the committee was to report to the March 1873 term of court. On March 29, 1874, the plans prepared by Mr. William McComb and Mr. Jones were accepted. This new courthouse was to be located on the spot where the old courthouse previously stood. In May 1876, the Commissioners Court opened sealed bids and awarded the construction contract to Thomas R. King who bid $9000. A second committee was assigned to supervise construction and "...report to the Court from time to time."

1876-1886

Construction began on the new one-story courthouse. The contractor presented plans to the court for the addition of a second story and the court approved them and authorized the changes. Complications in construction arose and the court "...minutes show that a 'state architect from Austin' was called in for 'advisement and recommendations." The 1876 courthouse was a square brick building with wooden floors, a brick vault in the west passage, a wooden cornice, and a standing seam tin roof." According to 1886 Court records, a storm caused severe damage to the courthouse and various repairs were completed. On May 10, 1886, it was a popular notion that the courthouse was no longer safe, and "Judge Stuart was authorized to have an architect inspect it." The architectural firm Dodson and Dudley gave an unsatisfactory report of the building and Eugene T. Heiner of Houston was engaged to draw plans for the fourth courthouse. These plans were accepted and seven contractors submitted bids on August 19, 1886. The contract was awarded to A. Baumbach of Houston for $47,793.00. William McComb was contracted to remove the old courthouse in 30 days for a cost of $850.00.

1886-1939

On December 9, 1886, a clerk was appointed by the architect to "... supervise work while the foundation is in process of construction, pay not to exceed $5 per day while working." The Marlin Masonic Lodge No. 152 in 1887, assisted by the Masonic Grand Lodge of Texas, leveled the building cornerstone. To celebrate this occasion, a barbecue and dance were held in Ward Street Park. County ranchmen donated meat for the barbecue and people came "...from miles around in their farm wagons and surries." People placed souvenirs into the cornerstone. The cornerstone remained in place during the entire life of the courthouse." On June 14, 1887, two contracts were awarded for courthouse furnishings. One contract was given to L.M. Cravens of Kansas Furniture Co. for new furniture in the amount of $1,800, and the other to Western File and Index Co. for vault equipment in the amount of $1,300. Due to the death of Judge Stuart and the absence of newly appointed Judge Wharton, the Court appointed T.J. Wilsford to supervise construction on July 6, 1887. On December 14, 1886, the Court's committee was authorized to meet with the city's committee to select a new clock to be placed in the tower of the new courthouse. The building was officially completed on February 28, 1888. The new building was a three-story stone building with a large clock tower extending beyond the roof. The building had two sets of stairs on the east and west sides of the building to access the second and third floors. The first floor consisted of offices and the County Commissioner's Courtroom. The second floor consisted of offices and the District Courtroom, which is estimated to have taken up 75% of the second floor. In addition to this, the Courtroom was said to have walls that continued through the third floor and had two-story high ceilings. The remainder of the third floor was divided into additional offices. The large clock tower had four faces, one in each direction (north, south, east, and west). The bell inside rang the hour and was always kept in time within a two or three-minute difference of the official time.

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Falls County Courthouse of 1939

It is noted in Commissioners Court Minutes in 1930 and 1934 that extensive repairs had to be made to the existing courthouse. The 1930 repairs included the installation of eight bracing rods to contain the spreading walls; the 1934 repairs were not itemized. Commissioners Court, on August 10, 1938, authorized Judge Carroll Pearce to confer with "...an Architect or Architects to secure plans and data to build a new courthouse." On September 2, 1938, the Commissioners Court passed a resolution to file an application to the United States government through the Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works for "... a grant in aid for the construction of the new courthouse, complete with furnishings and fixtures, designating Carroll Pearce, County Judge, and Arthur E. Thomas to furnish such information as the government may request."50 On September 24, 1938, a bond election for a new county courthouse was held but was defeated, 979 "for", and 1078 "against." After the election, State Building Inspector A.C. Barry conducted a public inspection and reported, "... He would not regard the present courthouse as a safe place in adverse weather conditions."51 Mrs. Gibbs recalls Mr. Berry stating directly to her at the courthouse, "...that the courthouse was a disaster waiting to happen." The second bond election, held on October 29, 1938, favored the new construction of a new courthouse, 1821 "for" and 705 "against."53 Prior to demolition, the four clock faces and bells were retrieved from the clock tower. Upon demolition of the courthouse, the souvenirs from the original cornerstone were retrieved and opened. The cornerstone was later placed on the courthouse lawn in 1946, along with the original cast iron bell from the clock tower and the cornerstone from one of the county schools, also demolished about that time. This memorial, known as the Courthouse Memorial, stands on the southeast corner of the courthouse lawn.

One of President Roosevelt's New Deal programs, the Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works was established on June 16, 1933, pursuant to the National Industrial Recovery Act, to prepare a comprehensive public works program. Under Secretary of the Interior Harold L. Ickes (who ran the program 1933-39), the agency administered the construction of various public works, such as public buildings, bridges, dams, and housing developments, and made loans to states and municipalities for similar projects. Renamed the Public Works Administration (PWA) and placed under the Federal Works Agency (FWA) on July 1, 1939, the agency was abolished in 1943.

The new courthouse as designed by the firm of Arthur E. Thomas, of Dallas, features a ground floor, two upper floors, and a penthouse - in all, twice the size of the previous courthouse. The existing jail, also on the courthouse Square, was not to be disturbed by the new work. The Falls County bond issue, in the amount of $130,000 was matched by the PWA 45% grant, per Commissioners Court Minutes of November 30, 1938, in the amount of $104,988. The project was let for bid, and the contract was awarded to Hill and Combs of San Antonio in the amount of $173,930. Each contractor had been instructed to include separate bids for his primary sub-contractors as part of the bid. Plumbing and heating were Wm. F. Kaun and Son, Wright Brothers were electrical, and furniture was let to Wilhide Equipment Co. All bids totaled $224,565, an amount less than the anticipated budget of $234,988. The bond issue and PWA grant amount were reduced accordingly. Commissioners Court Minutes of January 2, 1939 record that most courthouse functions were temporarily relocated to 107 Commerce Street, also known as the J.C. Penney Building. The Sheriff's offices were moved to temporary quarters in the Log Cabin. The Agricultural Agent was temporarily moved to 108 Commerce Street. The City Hall steps were ingeniously redesignated as the "Courthouse Steps" for customary county procedures.

On July 4, 1939, the new cornerstone was leveled by the Grand Lodge of Texas A.F. & A.M. and Auspices Marlin Lodge No. 152. During the ceremony, a copper casket with memorabilia was soldered and placed inside the cornerstone. The actual contents of the current cornerstone were not recorded but most likely include "A Bible, records of Masonic Lodges of Falls County, and of the Grand Masonic Lodge; copies of Falls County and State papers, including the Marlin Democrat of July 4, 1939, daily and semi-weekly issues; records of the county and city; pictures of the old courthouses and public buildings of the city; membership rosters of Marlin and Rosebud Chambers of Commerce, Marlin Lions and Rotary Clubs, Marlin's post of the American Legion; pictures of County Judges and Commissioners, who were in office when the movement began and when the courthouse was completed; and an advance copy of U.S. Senator Tom Connally's speech, prepared for the occasion, which the senator did not deliver, because he was detained elsewhere; other records, papers, souvenirs and papers removed from the cache of the cornerstone of the 1887 courthouse. Due to the absence of Senator Connally, the chief speaker was the Reverend William D. Daugherty, a grand chaplain of the Masonic Lodge of Texas. After several time extensions, the work and furnishings were mostly completed by November 27, 193963, per Commissioners Court Minutes. Exceptions included aluminum stair handrails and Venetian blinds. A formal opening celebration was held, with no refreshments, served per Commissioners Court Minutes, on December 12, 1939, with the building opened by U.S. Senator Tom Connally. By January 1, 1940, the county had moved into the offices. The final cost of the courthouse was $235,000 and was paid for by a $130,000 bond issue approved by Falls County voters and a PWA federal grant of $105,000.

The Falls County Courthouse is an excellent example of the Art Moderne Style, popular in the U.S. from the late 1920s through the early 1950s. Characteristics of Moderne styling present in the building include the symmetrical massing, simple cornice, modern steel casement windows set vertically between pilasters, stonework featuring stylized eagles, symmetrical organically derived ornament on the spandrels, and geometric motifs on some pilasters. The third level parapet is faced with the zig-zag decoration of classical derivation. First and second-floor corridors feature 3-color marble floors, installed in a zig-zag pattern, with a marble border and base. Entry stairs and ground to first and to second-floor stairs all have elaborate Art Moderne aluminum handrails. Ground, first, and second floors have decorative plaster ceilings, with a linear, divided round, scalloped profile. Decorative Art Moderne light fixtures are installed throughout the major public areas of the building. In keeping with typical Moderne styling, many elements are left plain.

Arthur Elliott Thomas, Architect (1893-1973)

Arthur Elliott Thomas was born in Crockett, Texas, on August 16, 1893, and attended the University of Texas from 1913- 1916, graduating with a bachelor's degree in Architecture. He opened his practice in 1925, before entering into a short-lived partnership with Cornell Curtis, under the firm name Curtis and Thomas, in 1927. The firm designed the Rusk County Courthouse (1928) in Henderson, Texas, a concrete and brick building with restrained Beaux Arts-influenced ornamentation. Although the firm dissolved in 1928, architects Curtis and Thomas worked together to design the Liberty County Courthouse (1931) in Liberty, Texas, a 3-story concrete and brick building with elaborate Art Deco detailing. From 1929 through 1938, Thomas again ran his firm, completing the Falls County Courthouse before entering into a series of partnerships, including Goodwin, Tatum, McCammon, and Thomas (1939-1940), Thomas, Sharp, Welch and Goodwin (1941-1944), Thomas, Jameson, and Merrill (1945-1963), and Thomas and Jameson (1964-1973). Thomas, Jameson, and Merrell designed the 1955 Smith County Courthouse in Tyler, Texas, a six-story Modern building with a buff brick exterior, and a central tower/wing massing that recalls that of the Falls County Courthouse. Thomas, Jameson, and Merrill were also responsible for three projects for the Marlin Independent School District, including the Marlin High School and Musical Arts Building in 1948, the Marlin High School and Gymnasium in 1949, and the Booker T. Washington High School. Drawings for these three projects are in the Blake Archives at the University of Texas at Austin.

Thomas' work also includes notable Dallas buildings such as the Dr. Pepper Company Headquarters (1947), Baylor University Hospital (1949), the Blue Cross Blue Shield Building (1950), Gibraltar Life Insurance Building (1952), Baptist Relief and Amenity Building (1959), Southwest Bell Telephone Administration and Equipment Building (1963), Children's Medical Center (1967), Lonestar Gas Office Building (1967), and the Joneson Medical and Surgical Hospital at Baylor University Medical Center of Dallas (1970). He worked in association with other Architectural firms including Harrell & Hamilton and Grayson Gill, Inc. on the Republic National Bank Tower in Dallas in 1965.

Thomas was a City of Dallas Building Code Committee Member from 1928-1929 and served on the Building Code Board of Appeal from 1939-1943. His military record includes service in the 817 Depot Aero Squadron, Instructor, Austin, Texas, 1917- 1924. He was actively involved in the American Institute of Architects Dallas Chapter since 1926, acquired the status of "Fellow" in 1950, and held offices including Secretary (1929), President (1940-42), Chairman of the Membership Committee (1943-44), Chairman of the Fellowship Committee (1954-55), and on the Memorial, Hospitals, and Health Committee (1953-58). He served as President of the Texas Society of Architects (1945) and as Organizing President of the Texas Architects Foundation (1952-53).

Local significance of the building:
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 2000.