National Register Listing

Dallas County Courthouse

Houston and Commerce Sts., Dallas, TX

The historic Dallas County Courthouse has regional architectural significance. One of the largest Romanesque Revival buildings to be erected in the state, it is also one of the most handsome. Good proportions and interesting massing with cylindrical forms juxtaposed against rectangular forms all contribute to the strength of the architectural statement. The use of arched openings of various proportions successfully unified the two narrow facades by two-story arcades comprising dominant central features on each elevation. Noteworthy details further contributing to the visual impact of the design include archivolts in strong relief, slender engaged columns flanking the openings of the upper stories, and decorative tympanums in the two-story range of arches. While the use of stone from state quarries provides local association, the stylistic details are consistent with Romanesque buildings found in other sections of the United States.

The block on which the 1891-92 courthouse is located has been the site of the nucleus of county government since the founding of Dallas. The first settler of Dallas County was John Neely Bryant, who established himself near the present courthouse square in 1841. The area was incorporated as Dallas County by an act of the Texas Legislature on March 30, 1846. For a time Bryant's log cabin housed the county court under the jurisdiction of Judge John H. Reapan.

The first permanent courthouse was a log cabin described as being sixteen feet by sixteen feet with a puncheon floor and split log seats. It was located on the northeast corner of the square.

The third courthouse was a two-story building of brick, fifty feet by fifty feet. Its construction was authorized in October of 1855 and plans were prepared by John J. Good, J.M. Patterson, and W.W. Peak. It occupied a central position in the courthouse square and was received by the press as "most handsome'. This structure was almost destroyed in 1860 by a fire that ravaged nearly the entire city. The structure was rebuilt and served the county until 1871, at which time it was sold at "public auction."

The cornerstone for a fourth courthouse was laid in October 1871. The building, to be constructed of "hard granite" from a quarry six miles east of the city, was two stories in height, and 66 feet by 110 feet. It cost $75,000. In 1880, a fire partially destroyed the building. The walls were, however, left intact and remodeling was accomplished with the addition of a Mansard roof and central tower at a cost of $80,000. The building burned once again on February 15, 1890.

Architect, M.A. Orlopp of Little Rock, was employed to prepare drawings for the construction of a new courthouse. The project was let to contractor R.L. James on July 23, 1890, for an estimated cost of $276,967.50. The cornerstone block of blue-grey granite, was laid on November 16, 1890. Construction was subsequently halted by a labor dispute in which unskilled laborers struck for a wage of $1.25 an hour for a ten-hour workday. On July 20, 1891, James was relieved of his duties by the commissioners' court which ordered his name chiseled off of the cornerstone. The Fort Worth Daily Gazette for that date reported that "the labor element is delighted, as James paid no attention to their demands, and hired union and non-union labor as best suited him." A further source of controversy was a highboard fence surrounding the construction site. Having been denounced repeatedly by the Federation of Labor and Farmer's Alliance, it was removed after James' dismissal. Architect Orlopp was retained as architect and job superintendent at a salary of $2,000 after a $10,000 performance bond was posted.

The building was occupied in the winter of 1892. Its finished cost was $59, 140.00 more than the original estimate. Although a new structure has been built, the Romanesque Revival temple continues to serve the functions of county government.

Local significance of the building:
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1976.