1915 Taylor County Courthouse
a.k.a. 5320
301 Oak St., Abilene, TXErected in 1913-1915, the Taylor County Courthouse is nominated at the local level of significance. The building is eligible in the area of Politics/Government, for its representation of Abilene's triumph as Taylor County's leading city and its service as the county's seat of government until 1972. It is also nominated in the area of Architecture, as an outstanding example of Classical Revival architecture. The building is associated with the historic context "The Railroad and Abilene's Development into a Wholesale and Distribution Center in West Texas, 1881-1939." Abilene's oldest and most intact governmental building, moderate and easily reversible alterations detract only minimally from the historic character of the courthouse and it retains its most important architectural features.
When Texas & Pacific Railroad officials established Abilene in 1881, Buffalo Gap at the eastern center of the county was the seat of government. Two years later, county residents voted to move the county seat to Abilene where the railroad ensured the city's success. A 2 1/2-story courthouse, designed by Martin Byrnes and Johnston, was built on Block 31 of the original townsite. This first courthouse building remained a prominent landmark in the community until the early 1910s when citizens of Abilene called for the construction of a new courthouse. A report presented to County Commissioners in 1913 confirmed suspicions that the building was unsafe, although some doubt remains about whether or not the building truly was a hazard to the public. In fact, Martin Byrnes and Johnston designed and built several courthouses and jails throughout the state that are at least 100 years old, yet they remain in good and stable condition. Possibly, citizens of Abilene wanted a new courthouse that would be more symbolic of the city's progressive and modern character. Voters approved a bond package to finance the construction of a new courthouse (Commissioner's Courts Minutes).
The County considered four architectural firms: E.G. Withers of Stamford, C.H. Page and Brother of Austin, L.L. Thurmann of Dallas and George Burnett of Waco. Although Withers initially was recommended, the Commissioners finally decided upon Burnett and a contract was prepared that included a provision for the Architectural School of the University of Texas to approve the plans (Commissioner's Courts Minutes).
The early courthouse was demolished to make way for the new one and county offices relocated temporarily to the Grace Hotel (National Register, Abilene Commercial Historic District, 1991). Bids for the actual construction of the courthouse were received from a number of firms. A.Z. Rogers' bid of $119,785 (later reduced to $117,900) was the lowest and his company was hired.
Construction work took two years and on May 12, 1915, the new building was officially designated as the county courthouse. It served in that capacity until 1972 when another facility was erected. The county still uses the 1913-1915 courthouse to house offices.
The 1913-1915 Taylor County Courthouse is an excellent example of Classical Revival architecture, a popular design used by governmental entities during the era. Classical columns and symmetrical facades are features typical of classically inspired architecture.
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1992.
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.