Old Brazoria County Courthouse
a.k.a. Angleton Library
Public Sq., Angleton, TXThe old courthouse building possesses architectural and governmental significance. It was built shortly after the county seat had been moved from nearby Angleton--only two years earlier, a beautiful and expensive Romanesque Revival temple of justice designed by James R. Gordon had been completed. The Angleton building has served county functions for over three-quarters of a century.
The history of Brazoria County dates back to the days in which Texas, along with Coahuila, was a part of a Mexico, the municipality of Brazoria was organized in 1832. A group of Stephen F. Austin's "old Three Hundred" colonists settled within the boundaries of the present county. Late in 1836, following the Texas Revolution, Brazoria County was established as a part of the Republic of Texas. Prior to the Civil War, sugar and cotton plantations produced much of the county's wealth. After the war, the economy declined, but near the end of the century agriculture again was contributing substantially to the county's prosperity.
When the county was organized in 1836, the town of Brazoria was established as the county seat. By 1837 it was reported that the community contained "a handsome courthouse and many neat dwellings."
By the 1890s county prosperity had developed sufficiently to finance a new temple of justice. In 1893 the old courthouse was condemned and bids, to be accompanied by plans and specifications, were invited.
Tor an unknown reason, all bids were rejected. After a committee visited courthouses that had been designed by George Dickey, Eugene T. Heiner, and J. Riely Gordon, the commission was awarded to Gordon for a new courthouse, which was built in Romanesque Revival style.
At about the time the commissioners' court accepted the new building, the town of Angleton was founded. To attract transportation interests, the land was donated to the Velasco Terminal Railroad. Shortly thereafter, in an election, county voters determined that the county seat should be removed from Brazoria to Angleton. After the seat of government was moved the former community declined.
In 1896 county commissioners advertised for bids on a courthouse and jail "depicting those at Bay City." Early the following year the privilege to use the plans for these buildings was purchased from architect Eugene T. Heiner of Houston. The courthouse was then built by contractor Tom Lovell for about $30,000. This edifice was remodeled in 1927 according to the plans of J.A. Tempest.
After another new courthouse was erected in 1940, this building was converted into a library. Subsequently, in 1976 a large addition was made to the 1940 building.
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
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.