National Register Listing

Hamilton County Courthouse

Public Sq., Hamilton, TX

The Hamilton County Courthouse possesses both architectural and historical significance. Architecturally, the original nineteenth-century building incorporated handsome details and sound construction. In the twentieth century, rather than erecting a new building as was done in many counties, Hamilton County Commissioners decided to authorize additions that were fashionable for their times, yet were quite compatible with older sections--a unique composition of forms resulted. Historically, by expanding in this manner, the original courthouse was able to serve as a center of county activities for over three-quarters of a century.

The nineteenth-century section of the building incorporated details that were typical of Second-Empire-styled edifices. Both Roman and segmental arches of cut stone with pronounced keystones spanned the openings. The walls were further enhanced by fine stonework, including cut stone quoins and ashlar patterns.

Significantly, in developing harmonizing designs for the addition, the architects repeated the use of Roman arches to span the openings. At the base of each tower is a tympanum that incorporated low relief figures relating to the history of the county--a trend in symbolism that appeared in other Texas courthouses built at the same time. Impressions of cowboys, Indians, and livestock are among those displayed under the arches. The ashlar patterns of the stonework of the original also were repeated in the additions. Then, the location of the top cut-stone string course of the original four pavilions became the level of the coping in the new addition, thus creating a continuous line tying the new to the old. Below this was placed an entablature of cut stone. To further unify the entire composition on the north and south and to provide the monumental character that was so much admired in the early decades of the twentieth century, porticoes with paired columns of colossal order placed upon pedestals were incorporated into the design. Capitals were in the Ionic order, and the entablature and pediment were simply detailed. In the pediment was placed the seal of the State of Texas. Of course, the removal of the Mansard roofs from the original section was necessary to allow the development of unity between the new and the old.

Hamilton County was created from parts of the surrounding counties in 1858, four years after the first permanent settlement was initiated by Robert Carter. Located in west-central Texas, it developed an economy primarily based on agriculture. Before the Civil War, the county population was less than 500 and as late as 1870 it was still under 1,000. As was characteristic of newly settled areas, the population mushroomed after the arrival of the railroads and by the turn of the century was over 13,000.
Typical of fledgling counties, the Hamilton County government was housed in make-shift quarters during the first years. In 1869 Jones Store was used for a $2 fee. Two years later it was recorded that the schoolhouse was used for the district court. During the early 1870s a "rock house" was rented; however, this building burned in 1877.

Shortly thereafter, the plans and proposal of contractors Martin, Moodie, and Johnston were accepted for a new $12,000 temple of justice built in the center of the public square. It was completed in less than a year. However, in 1886 misfortune struck again and this courthouse also burned. Fortunately, a fireproof record vault with double walls of bricks and a brick barrel vault overhead protected some of the records.

After an election determined that the seat of justice should remain in Hamilton--rather than "J. D. Hunt's location or Pigtown"--plans submitted by contractors Martin, Byrnes, and Johnston were accepted. Bids were solicited through advertisement in the Dallas Morning News and the contract to build the new $60,000 temple was awarded to Lovell, Hood, and McLeod of Brownwood, Texas. The final payment on the building was made in February 1887. It had been built in nine months.

The interior incorporated fireproof construction. The second floor was supported on corrugated iron arches over which was placed concrete.

Through additions and remodeling, the courthouse has been expanded and updated. Today it continues to serve the needs of county government. Throughout its history, the courthouse, with the surrounding commercial buildings, has been a center of many types of functions, including social, legal, justice, and commercial activities. Local residents affectionately associate the monumental building with the history of the development of the county.

Local significance of the building:
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1980.