Gonzales County Courthouse
Bounded by St. Louis, St. Paul. St. Lawrence, and St. Joseph Sts., Gonzales, TXGonzales served as the capital of Empresario Green DeWitt s colony from 1825 to 1836. Since 1837, it has been the county seat of Gonzales County. A proud self-image is reflected in the architecture of its courthouse. The style reflects the taste which prevailed in the late nineteenth century; it speaks of an era during which newly wealthy cattlemen trailed their herds north, and built some of the most opulent homes in Gonzales.
Prior to the age of the opulent mansions in Gonzales, the courthouse had been "practically the community center,... the site of all religious services before the various churches were built, and... the scene of social gatherings." In addition, the courthouse was much in use for its formal purpose, the enforcement of the law. The famous and violent local vendettas such as the Sutton-Taylor feud, the Littlefield- Martin feud, and the gun-notching escapades of John Wesley Hardin were more or less settled by the time the courthouse was built in 1896. However, the atmosphere was still violent. In 1899, "a leading doctor seriously cut with a pocket knife a man who accosted him with a barrage of ugly names... and a multiple shooting on a downtown street involved several prominent families."
The first Gonzales courthouse burned on December 3, 1893, and the construction of a second building began in 1894. building of the new courthouse provoked cries of political scandal. Debt-ridden farmers had been seeking a political voice for many years, and in the 1890s they rallied to the Populist ticket. Indeed, the general election of 1892 disclosed that a three-party system prevailed in Gonzales. Out-voted Democrats claimed that the Populist county officials had pocketed some of the money appropriated for the new courthouse, had kicked back some of the appropriations to Populist friends, and had awarded the contract on political considerations rather than on the basis of the best bids.
Whatever the truth may have been, the contract was let on June 26, 1894, to Otto P. Kroeger of San Antonio. The structure cost $64,450; it was completed on April 8, 1896. The brick from the building is said to have been freighted from St. Louis; the rock came from a quarry at Maurin, a few miles from Gonzales.
The building was extensively repaired in 1958. Improvements included a new roof and waterproofing. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark 1966.
Local significance of the building:
Prior to the age of the opulent mansions in Gonzales, the courthouse had been "practically the community center,... the site of all religious services before the various churches were built, and... the scene of social gatherings." In addition, the courthouse was much in use for its formal purpose, the enforcement of the law. The famous and violent local vendettas such as the Sutton-Taylor feud, the Littlefield- Martin feud, and the gun-notching escapades of John Wesley Hardin were more or less settled by the time the courthouse was built in 1896. However, the atmosphere was still violent. In 1899, "a leading doctor seriously cut with a pocket knife a man who accosted him with a barrage of ugly names... and a multiple shooting on a downtown street involved several prominent families."
The first Gonzales courthouse burned on December 3, 1893, and the construction of a second building began in 1894. building of the new courthouse provoked cries of political scandal. Debt-ridden farmers had been seeking a political voice for many years, and in the 1890s they rallied to the Populist ticket. Indeed, the general election of 1892 disclosed that a three-party system prevailed in Gonzales. Out-voted Democrats claimed that the Populist county officials had pocketed some of the money appropriated for the new courthouse, had kicked back some of the appropriations to Populist friends, and had awarded the contract on political considerations rather than on the basis of the best bids.
Whatever the truth may have been, the contract was let on June 26, 1894, to Otto P. Kroeger of San Antonio. The structure cost $64,450; it was completed on April 8, 1896. The brick from the building is said to have been freighted from St. Louis; the rock came from a quarry at Maurin, a few miles from Gonzales.
The building was extensively repaired in 1958. Improvements included a new roof and waterproofing. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark 1966.
Architecture
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1972.
About National Register Listings
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.
The University of Texas at Austin, founded in 1883, is one of the largest universities in the United States and has produced many notable alumni, including several U.S. presidents.
About Gonzales County
Gonzales County Timeline
Gonzales County, Texas, has a rich history dating back to its settlement in the early 1820s. The area was part of the Mexican state of Coahuila y Tejas until the Texas Revolution in 1836, when the Battle of Gonzales became a pivotal moment in the fight for independence. The battle, often referred to as the "Lexington of Texas," was fought due to a demand by Mexican authorities for the return of a cannon given to the settlers to protect against Native American raids. This refusal to comply with the orders of the Mexican government marked the beginning of the Texas Revolution.
Following the Texas Revolution and the establishment of the Republic of Texas, Gonzales County played a vital role in the formation of the new state. The town of Gonzales became the capital of DeWitt County and remained a prominent center for trade and agriculture. The 1850s brought an influx of German immigrants to the area, who brought with them their agricultural expertise and helped to further develop the county's economy.
During the Civil War, Gonzales County primarily sided with the Confederacy, and many residents served in the Confederate Army. After the war, the county faced a period of reconstruction and struggled with political and economic challenges. However, through the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the discovery of oil and the expansion of the cattle industry brought renewed growth and prosperity to Gonzales County.
Today, Gonzales County remains a vibrant community with a mix of agriculture, oil and gas production, and diverse industries. The county is also known for its rich cultural heritage, including historical sites and the annual reenactment of the Battle of Gonzales. The county's history is celebrated and preserved through museums, historical markers, and the pride of its residents in their shared past.
Following the Texas Revolution and the establishment of the Republic of Texas, Gonzales County played a vital role in the formation of the new state. The town of Gonzales became the capital of DeWitt County and remained a prominent center for trade and agriculture. The 1850s brought an influx of German immigrants to the area, who brought with them their agricultural expertise and helped to further develop the county's economy.
During the Civil War, Gonzales County primarily sided with the Confederacy, and many residents served in the Confederate Army. After the war, the county faced a period of reconstruction and struggled with political and economic challenges. However, through the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the discovery of oil and the expansion of the cattle industry brought renewed growth and prosperity to Gonzales County.
Today, Gonzales County remains a vibrant community with a mix of agriculture, oil and gas production, and diverse industries. The county is also known for its rich cultural heritage, including historical sites and the annual reenactment of the Battle of Gonzales. The county's history is celebrated and preserved through museums, historical markers, and the pride of its residents in their shared past.
Gonzales County Timeline
This timeline provides a concise overview of the key events in the history of Gonzales County, Texas.
- 1834 - Gonzales County established as a municipality of Mexico
- 1835 - "Come and Take It" cannon skirmish occurs in Gonzales, marking the start of the Texas Revolution
- 1836 - Texas gains independence from Mexico; Gonzales County becomes part of the Republic of Texas
- 1846 - Texas becomes a state, and Gonzales County remains a political subdivision
- 1861-1865 - Gonzales County residents participate in the American Civil War
- 1878 - The Gonzales Inquirer, the oldest continuously published weekly newspaper in Texas, is established
- 1887 - Gonzales County Courthouse is built
- 1891 - The Harwood and Gonzales Railway connects Gonzales to the Texas railway network
- 1905 - Oil is discovered in Gonzales County, leading to an economic boom
- 1936 - The Gonzales Warm Springs Rehabilitation Center, now the J.B. Wells Park, opens as a medical facility for polio patients
- 1949 - The Gonzales Memorial Museum is established to preserve local history
- 1967 - The Gonzales State School opens to serve individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities
- 1988 - The Confederate Soldiers Monument is erected in the Gonzales Memorial Museum