Cass County Courthouse

Built in 1866/1933 in Classical Revival architectual style by architect Charles Ames and Stewart Moore by contractor J. Thomas Veal and L.W. Lisenbee.

The Cass County Courthouse was designed by Judge Charles Ames in 1859 and was constructed of local brick made by J. Thomas Veal and L. W. Lisenbee, who were also the builders. The Civil War delayed the building's completion until 1866. This 50-foot by 60-foot structure was two stories high with four brick chimneys. It featured a hipped metal roof painted a lead color and a square, 23-foot high cupola with a zinc covered dome, crowned with a spire and a wooden ball. Both the ball and spire were covered with gold leaf. The interior featured 12-foot high ceilings and tongue and grove flooring. The entire courthouse was painted 'Spanish brown' inside and out. Around 1900, a 15-foot wing was added to the east side of the building by B. H. Singletary of Atlanta, Texas. In 1917, two more wings were added, one on the west side and another on the east side. The architect for this addition was Stewart Moore, form Texarkana, Texas, and the contractors were A. M. and R. G. Brashears, also from Texarkana. In 1933, a fire destroyed part of the second floor. The damage was repaired immediately; the tin covered cupola was removed, and the third floor was added. Sometime after the fire, stucco was applied over the brick and was painted white with deep tan trim. In 1979, a fourth addition of offices and an elevator were constructed on the west side of the courthouse. The existing three-story, Classical Revival style courthouse is the result of these renovations. The seven-bay longitudinal elevation features a prominent, three-bay, two-story entry portico with a pediment and Roman Doric columns. The pediment is decorated with a semi-circular fan window. The hipped roof is made of red tile and has a deck but no railing. The original brick chimneys are no longer present. Most of the windows on the first and second floors are nine panes over three panes and double hung with a modest sill. Third floor windows are casements, mostly used in pairs, but occasionally used individually. An entablature with a very generous overhang wraps around the building. The frieze, previously painted in contrasting earth-tones but now all in white, is the main decorative element. The metopes are plain and vary in width, because the triglyphs are spaced to synchronize with spacing of fenestration and to add emphasis to the corners of the building. Further embellishments include a glass transom above the doors on the east and west facades, a triangular pediment above the door on the north facade and simple architrave-type trim on the south door. While Cass County can proudly claim the oldest Texas courthouse in continuous service and the only antebellum courthouse surviving in Texas., the frequent additions and alterations disguise the historic structure. New doors have been installed, ceilings have been lowered from 12 feet to 8'feet with acoustical tile and recessed fluorescent lighting fixtures, walls have been paneled and carpet has been laid on the concrete floor. These unsympathetic interior renovations and 'modernizations' have buried the building's historic character, making it virtually indistinguishable.

1859: Courthouse construction begins. Occupancy may have begun in 1861 but the building was not completed until 1866.1900: First addition constructed on the east by B.H. Singletary of Atlanta, Texas;1918: east and west wings added by Stewart Moore, archt.with AM & RG Brashears, Contractors, cost $44,729; 1933: third floor added and building stuccoed following a fire. Witt Seibert & Halsey Architects of Texarkana with Hardy Const. Co. cost $33,854.20; 1975: remodeled and modernized by Winston Sullivan of Linden, Texas; 1979: fourth addition constructed to west end adding office space and elevator by architect James R. Link and constructed by E.M. Pierce Construction Co.1988-89: correspondance suggests that an exterior elevator may have been added.

Current status: Active Courthouse