Anderson County Courthouse

Built in 1914 in Classical Revival architectual style by architect C.H. Page and Brother by contractor R.G. Bryalson.

The building is a basic, cross plan with an octagonal rotunda at the center. The exterior shape is a simple 9-bay by 5-bay rectangle with classical-style porticos on each of the four facades. Classical details include free-standing and engaged columns and pilasters of the Ionic Order, a full entablature, pedimented porticos, a roof balustrade, and a dome. The ground level is brick layed using recessed courses repeated at intervals to create a substantial, stone foundation effect. The columns occur above this bottom level--paired engaged columns on the corners of the building and porticos, engaged columns separating each bay, and pilasters on the wall under the porticos. The relatively short, round dome has arched windows forming a clearstory and is roofed in sheet metal. A statue of justice rests on top. Finally, all of the windows are tri-part, 1-over-1, double-hung sash windows. The interior is characterized by an octagonal rotunda housing a dramatic spiral staircase and topped by a stained-glass skylight. The Anderson County Courthouse, a Classical Revival Style temple built in 1914, is the visual focal point of the city of Palestine, Anderson County, Texas. The courthouse sits in the center of the courthouse square on a gently sloped hill. Inplan, the courthouse is a bi-axial Beaux Arts arrangement with a rotunda. Thebuilding is three stories with a raised basement. It is finished in brick, stone and terra cotta. Visual dominance of the building is achieved through the overall height,contrasting colors, large raised porticos with giant Ionic columns and a silverpainted dome. The building has had few alterations since its construction, retaining its architectural integrity and growing in symbolic importance. Palestine is the county seat of Anderson County in east Texas. The courthouse is a polychrome free standing building sited on top of Palestine's highest hill. The tan and dark red brick of the walls contrasts sharply with the large scale limestone and glazed terra cotta detailing. Situated in the center of the town square, itsconstruction greatly affected the appearance of the square. The pre-1913 the blockconfiguration was octagonal in shape. A square shaped site was developed for thenew courthouse, echoing the strong formal building plan and the then-current trendof Beaux Arts design. The courthouse is in the center of the square surrounded bysmall 1- and 2-story vernacular commercial masonry buildings. The Anderson County Courthouse has always been surrounded by open greenpark-like space. At present it has a sweeping lawn with carefully planted trees and shrubs. In the early 1920s each of the four corners of the block was planted withpecan trees while tall pyracantha trees edged the building. Landscaping changeswere made between 1970- 1980. Small dogwood trees replaced the tall pyracantha trees that had surrounded the building and obscured the facades. Benches and seasonal flowers line the broad walks that lead from the street to each entrance. A winding sidewalk, sheltered by flowers and dwarf evergreen shrubs, surrounds thebuilding. Contributing objects on the square are the white marble cornerstone from the 1885 courthouse, and the paired historic lampposts at each porticoes entrance(counted as 1 resource). Non-Contributing objects within the courthouse blockinclude six monuments and commemorative plaques: a bronze Masonic plaque dedicated to noted Anderson County citizen Judge W.C.W. Jowers; a marble obelisk honoring veterans of World War I through Vietnam (see photo #7); a flagpole with a granite dedication stone presented by the Dogwood Garden Club; aRecorded Texas Historic Landmark Medallion on post; and two Texas Historical Commission subject markers. The three Texas Historical Commission plaques are considered one resource. The courthouse is bi-axial in plan (see floor plan p.-7- 3). Each of the four entrances leads to the central three- story rotunda. The central volume is filled by an octagonal cast iron staircase with marble treads and risers, and capped with a roundart glass skylight below the dome (see photos #4, 5). Interior wall and floordetailing is minimal: tile and linoleum floors, simple wainscotting at each level inGeorgia gray marble, stained oak woodwork, and brass hardware. The building is a rectangular three-story temple form with raised basement andmassive central projecting entrance porticos on all four elevations. The porticos dominance is established by the series of steps that rise up 1/2-story to the 1stfloor, and the giant scale of the elements. One- story, 3-bay heavy rusticated darkred brick loggias with rectangular openings form a sturdy base of support for themassive porticos. At each portico, 6 giant Ionic stone columns carry a denticulated terra cotta pediment and entablature. The classical form is completed by a runningbalustrade, above the cornice line, that provides the transition for a half-round silver painted steel dome supported by a tall drum articulated with 12 Ionicpilasters. The apex is crowned by the statue of Justice facing south. Each elevationis symmetrical about the portico. Three part windows occur on all four levels andare centered between columns. Original lampposts mark either side of each of the four entrances. The district courtroom is the most elaborate room in the building. It is a 2-storyvaulted space with wood wainscot, plaster pilasters and an elaborate pedimented backdrop at the judge's bench (see photo 6). Wall divisions throughout the buildingremain largely unchanged. The Anderson County Courthouse is a relatively intact example of the grand Classical Revival style of public architecture popular in Texas in the early 1900s. The landscaping has been slightly modified, but the building appears much as it didin 1914. The building retains its integrity to a high degree. Proper Inventory Courthouse, Contributing. 8 Lampposts, Contributing. 1885 Cornerstone, Contributing. All war monument, Noncontributing. Flagpole marker, Noncontributing. Marker, Judge Jowers, Noncontributing. 3 THC Markers, Noncontributing. Birdbath, Noncontributing. The Anderson County Courthouse is one of the most architecturally significantearly 20th century courthouses in east Texas, and is the seat of Anderson County government. Built in 1914 during one of the most prosperous periods of thecounty's history, the building is an excellent example of Classical Revival architecture, designed by Page Brothers, Architects, and is one of the few examples of this style in the county and one of the most intact in the state. It is eligible forlisting in the National Register of Historic Places at the statewide level of significance under Criterion C in the area of Architecture. The period of significance is the construction date of 1914. Anderson County marks a gateway between the blackland prairies to the west, and the hilly forests of deep east Texas. The county was created and organized in 1846out of the northern part of Houston County and was named for Kenneth L.Anderson, vice-president of the Republic of Texas from 1844 until annexation in1845. Anderson County has a diversity of natural resources, agricultural products,and industries. Palestine was founded in the 1830s and made the county seat in 1846 and is a center of transportation and agribusiness. It is served by the Missouri Pacific (originally International h Great Northern) and the Southern Pacific(originally Texas and New Orleans) Railroads. Palestine and Anderson County's population doubled from 1870 to 1880 andcontinued to increase until 1940. With the coming of the railroad, much of thecommercial activity in Palestine shifted from the area around the courthouse (Old Town) to the area near the I&GN station, offices and shops known as New Town.As prominent new buildings were erected in the city they were typically in NewTown, including the Carnegie Library (1914, NR 1988), the Federal Building (1913), and most of the city's churches, banks, shops, and hotels. In 1913 thethird courthouse to serve Anderson County burned. It was a Second Empire stylebuilding constructed in 1885. The first three Anderson County courthouses had been in the original courthouse square. In direct opposition to the move away fromOld Town, the county commissioners chose to construct a new courthouse in agrand style on the historic courthouse square, and thus maintain the important symbolic seat of civic government in the original town development and its proximity to the existing jail one block to the southeast. Despite the economic shiftfrom Old Town to New Town, the two were never completely isolated from oneanother. A visual link was maintained by Avenue A, the only southwest/northeast diagonal artery in an otherwise north/south oriented rectilinear city. The commissioners chose Charles Henry Page and Louis Charles Page of Austin,Texas, as the courthouse architects. The Page brothers had moved to Austin in1886 from St. Louis and established their firm,. Page Brothers, Architects, in1898. They had recently completed two notable classically styled buildings, the Smith County Courthouse in Tyler (1910) and the Littlefield Building in Austin(1912, NR 1975). From the 1900's through 1920's the Page brothers designed many public buildings with fine classical detailing and versatility in classical form.Their firm was sought to produce a sophisticated image the county commissionersfelt suited their center of government. Both the Classical Revival and Beaux Arts styles were very popular courthouse designs throughout the state. The Anderson County Courthouse is a variation of a typical Beaux Arts plan. It is formally organized, bi-axial and has a central rotundathat provides a focus. Typical exterior Beaux Arts treatment of the elevationsinclude a heavy rusticated base with raised projecting porticos and a connectin gbalustrade above the cornice. The Classical Revival styling is evident in the boldsimplicity of all the elements, decorative and structural, that make up the facade. At its completion the courthouse was the most significant and important building in the county. It was dedicated by the commissioners on December 20, 1914, and costapproximately $250,000. Sub-contractors included A.M. Burnes, Palestine(heating, plumbing and vacuum cleaner system); Wm. A. Carro & Co., St. Louis(electrical wiring); Egan Fixture Co., Dallas (electric fixtures); Ben Sarvis,Palestine (painting), Wisconsin White Oak, Ingram Mill Co. (woodwork); MosherMfg. Co., Dallas (cast iron stairs and dome); Dixie Heating & Ventilating Co. (roofing and dome structure); J. Desco & Son, Dallas (marble); E. Oats, Dallas (stone columns); Hodges Furniture Co., Palestine (wooden furniture); Art MetalConstruction Co. (steel furniture); Houston Car Wheel & Machine Co. (bronzetables); Gilbert Mfg. Co., Dallas (steel window frames); Swann Furniture Co.,Palestine (U.S. Battleship linoleum and shades). The Anderson County Courthouse is a strong reminder of Palestine's early 20th century prominence as a transportation and agribusiness center and as the center ofgovernment of a developing community. The courthouse building was successfulin projecting a sophisticated image of county government. Its siting, large size,massing and skillfully articulated detailing make this building one of the mostnotable in its region. It is also one of few extant Classical Revival style buildings of this caliber in the state.

Building was renovated in 1985. Renovation of existing law library to courtroom in 1995. Proposed Bathroom Renovations in 1995.

Current status: Active Courthouse