Red River County Courthouse

Built in 1884 in Renaissance Revival with Second Empire details architectual style by architect William H. Wilson by contractor P.C. Livingston, Monroe, Louisiana.

In the early 1880s, Red River County decided it needed a larger courthouse. Because the town square was too small to accommodate a larger building, the decision was made to move the new structure off the square. A plot of land one block north of the square was purchased for the sum of $2,000 for the new courthouse, and the first stone was laid on March 17, 1884. W. H. Wilson, a Dallas architect, was awarded the commission to design the building. P. C. Livingston of Monroe, Louisiana was selected as the contractor. In 1884, the cornerstone, a white marble block with a low relief carving on the face of the blindfolded Goddess of Justice, was leveled into place by the Masonic fraternity. The courthouse's final cost was $55, 423.49, approximately $15,000 more than had been anticipated. Though the building is cruciform in plan, the north and south projections house only stairwells. The east-west axis contains offices for sheriff, tax assessor, tax collector and county judge; entrances on each side are connected by bisecting corridors. The Red River temple of justice, incorporating Renaissance Revival features, is built with ochre-colored limestone quarried in the vicinity of the nearby community of Honey Grove. The stones have flat hammered faces and smooth margins. The base of the walls below the water table is of rock-faced ashlar. The columns and pedestals projecting from the building corners are a notable exterior feature. Annular moldings decorate the base, capital and shaft of the columns. The doors and first- and second-story windows are spanned by segmental arches, and the third level features bull's eye windows. Bold stringcourses are employed between the first and second stories. A cornice of sheet metal, manufactured in Dallas, caps the walls, while finials project vertically above the columns. The centrally positioned tower is clad with metal, and a bold-faced clock, with dials eight-and-a-half feet in diameter, and a cupola complete the composition. The Howard Clock and Watch Company of Boston, Massachusetts manufactured the clock's two thousand-pound bell. The interior features plastered walls and wooden wainscoting. Pine floors and a bead board ceiling are installed throughout the building. The district courtroom located on the second floor has several noteworthy details. A ceiling of boards with beaded edges is articulated by wooden beams running in two directions, with pendants at the points of intersection and at the walls. An iron fence once separated the public seating area from the bar. The elevated bench of finely crafted wood is placed in a recessed area that is accented by an arch supported by iron columns. An addition housing offices and the county clerk's records was made to the west side of the original courthouse in 1910. Although the addition lacks the exterior detailing of the main building, similar materials and details satisfactorily relate the addition to the original building. The stringcourse and segmental arches in the addition are similar to those in the original structure. Over the years the Red River Courthouse has seen few alterations. Unfortunately, the alterations that have been done in the courtroom have greatly altered its appearance. A dropped ceiling has been installed, hiding the top of the second story windows, the bull's eye windows and the decorative ceiling treatment. Wood paneling has also been installed, thereby concealing the original wainscot and stucco walls. Many of the original courtroom items, such as juror's chairs, wrought iron railings and benches have also been removed.

later 2-story limestone addition for county clerk's office.(continued from above...Over the years the Red River Courthouse has seen few alterations. Unfortunately, the alterations that have been done in the courtroom have greatly altered its appearance. A dropped ceiling has been installed, hiding the top of the second story windows, the bull's eye windows and the decorative ceiling treatment. Wood paneling has also been installed, thereby concealing the original wainscot and stucco walls. Many of the original courtroom items, such as juror's chairs, wrought iron railings and benches have also been removed.)

Current status: Active Courthouse