Concho County Courthouse

Built in 1886 in Second Empire architectual style by architect F. E. Ruffini by contractor Kane and Cormack, Lampasas.

In 1884, F. E. Ruffini recieved a duplicate set of plans for the Tom Green County Courthouse from his brother, Oscar, who had been hired as superintendent of construction for the new courthouse in San Angelo. F. E. was so taken with the design by W. W. Larmour, that he adapted the form to create his plans for the Blanco County Courthouse in Blanco. The design proved so successful, Ruffini quickly presented the plans to two other counties: Callahan and Concho (Dickey, pp. 125-6). Eventually the same plan would be used to construct a total of five courthouses in the state, including Sutton and Mills Counties. In September of 1885, J. B. Smith presented Ruffini's plans and specifications to the Concho County Commissioner's Court. The Court quickly adopted the plans and paid Smith $625.00. In October of that year, F. E., gravely ill with a heart condition, witnessed the birth of his third child, and the death of his wife, Lizzie, from dengue fever. F. E. Ruffini died one month later on November 17, 1885. The Commissioner's Court, in need of a superintending architect, sent a representative to San Angelo and secured the services of Oscar Ruffini. Kane and Cormack, of Lampasas, were awarded the construction contract (C. C. Court Minutes; Dickey, pp. 59-60). The original plans for the Concho County Courthouse are preserved in the Texas State Archives. Upon inspection of the plans, however, discrepancies betweem the drawings and the building quickly become apparent. The Concho County Courthouse plans were beautifully drafted and rendered by Oscar Ruffini. The building depicted is of brick construction with plastered interior and exterior finishes and rich decorative details. On the front elevation, within the pediment above the central bay, is the date 1887. The existing courthouse in Concho County is of stone construction and exhibits none of the decorative plaster ornamentation rendered in the plans. The date displayed on the building's pediment accurately indicates the year the building was placed into service, 1886. Further investigation reveals that the courthouse was actually constructed according to the plans and specifications created by F. E. Ruffini for the Blanco County Courthouse. The reason Oscar drew the more elaborate set of plans is unknown. The Second Empire styled courthouse is laid out on the traditional cross-axial plan, with wide corridors dividing the ground floor into four equal quadrants. Offices and storage spaces located in these quadrants were allocated in the original plan to the county and district clerks, sheriff, county treasurer, tax assessor, surveyor, county judge and chambers for the commissioners' court. Stairways at either side of the east-west hall rise simply to a graceful curve at the top. The second floor is occupied by an imposing courtroom and several jury rooms. Much of the historic interior detailing can be seen today in the pressed metal ceilings and handsome wooden staircases. On the exterior of the two-story stone structure, the walls are constructed with cream-colored ashlar masonry with cut stone quoins and a cut stone stringcourse, which separates the two floors and forms a base for the tall, narrow window openings. A wide metal cornice is carried on ornamental brackets. Above the cornice rests the mansard roof, rising in three sections and featuring framed circular dormers and metal trim which contrasts with the cornice. Mansard pavillions with wrought iron cresting accent the entry bays. At each elevation the entrances are further emphasized by a triangular pediment. The north and south entries are flanked by projecting bays with cornices slightly higher than the adjacent wall surfaces.

-Rehabilitated in 1975. -Installed elevator 1993.

Current status: Active Courthouse