Lavaca County Courthouse
Hallettsville, TexasBuilt in 1899 in Romanesque Revival architectual style by architect Eugene T. Heiner by contractor A. T. Lucas.
On March 8, 1897, the Lavaca County Commissioner's Court approved the construction of a new courthouse and decided that the building would be placed in the center of the courthouse square, on the same site as the two previous courthouses. Eugene T. Heiner was hired to design the courthouse; A. T. Lucas was hired to build it. Heiner chose to design the building in the Romanesque Revival style, and the end result is strongly reminiscent of the landmark Allegheny County Courthouse of 1884 by H. H. Richardson in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. For this reason, the style is often dubbed "Richardsonian Romanesque." The three-story Lavaca County Courthouse, built from 1897-1899, is constructed of Mills County Gray Limestone and sandstone from Mineral Wells, Texas. The structure sits in the center of the Hallettsville courthouse square and is laid out in a cruciform plan with one leg of the cross slightly longer than the other three. At the end of each wing, an arch springs from a cluster of short columns, forming a covered entry. A two-story segmental arch differentiates the entry on the longest wing of the structure. Heavy towers with pyramidal roofs and gabled dormers flank the side arms of the cross-shaped structure. The stone of the building has a quarry-faced, rusticated finish. The upper corners of the courthouse are accented by small ornamental stone turrets. Most of the windows on the second and third floors are set in pairs, framed within large two-story stone arches. The window arrangement of the courthouse is comprised of one-over-one, double-hung sash windows. A tall and slender clock tower rises above the central hall of the courthouse. All four sides of the tower feature two-story narrow windows topped by a clock face outlined by a Roman arch. The top story of the tower has an open deck with colonnaded circular balconies on each facade. The tower is crowned with a four-sided pyramidal roof. All roof areas were originally black slate and featured iron cresting that accented the roofline. Unfortunately both the slate and cresting have been removed, significantly altering the roof's appearance. The interior of the courthouse has beautiful encaustic tile floors and wood wainscoting in the public areas. Two grand cast iron staircases lead to the upper floors. Public offices dominate the first two floors with the large double-height district courtroom on the second floor. The third floor originally housed jury dormitories, which featured with wash basins, closets and a well-equipped bathroom. The gallery for the courtroom was also located on the third floor. The walls of the courthouse were originally decorated with stenciling, infill painting and freehand painting (Kubicek, p. 52). The courthouse was considered very modern for the times because it contained several indoor public lavatories, wash basins in numerous offices, and electricity. Although some modifications have been made to the courthouse's interior, the building retains a remarkable amount of its historic integrity.
1936: John C. Moore repaired the building, remodeled the basement, added offices for county auditor, agriculture agent & home demonstration agent.1973: Elevator installed.1988: Williams Co. electrical & mech. renovations.1997:Exterior cleaning. Pigeon control netting in tower.
Current status: Active Courthouse
The Texas Historical Commission's (THC) nationally recognized and award-winning Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program (THCPP) has turned around the trend of disrepair and begun restoring these treasured historic landmarks. Texas has more historic courthouses than any other state. Today more than 240 courthouses still stand that are least 50 years old. About 80 were built before the turn of the 20th century. By the end of that century, most of these structures were significantly deteriorated due to inadequate maintenance, insensitive modifications or weather related damage. The Texas Historical Commission (THC) documented the condition of 50 of the state’s oldest courthouses in the late 1990s and determined that counties lacked the resources to preserve the buildings for future generations.
The Texas Rangers, a famous law enforcement agency, were first organized in 1835 to protect settlers from Native American attacks.
In 1846, Lavaca County was officially established by the Texas state legislature and was named after the Lavaca River, which runs through the area. The county quickly developed as a center for agriculture, with cotton becoming the primary cash crop. Many plantations were established, and slavery played a significant role in the local economy, impacting the social and cultural dynamics of the region.
During the Civil War, Lavaca County supported the Confederacy, with many of its residents volunteering for military service. The county experienced the effects of the war firsthand, including economic hardships and infrastructure damage. In the post-war years, the cotton industry faced several challenges, including the boll weevil infestation and the Great Depression, which led to a decline in agricultural dominance.
In the 20th century, Lavaca County transitioned into a more diversified economy, with the growth of oil and gas exploration. The discovery of oil in the early 1900s brought prosperity to the region, attracting new residents and businesses. Today, Lavaca County continues to be primarily rural with a strong agricultural heritage, while also benefiting from the contributions of the energy industry. The county's deep-rooted history and ongoing development make it a unique and historically significant part of Texas.
Lavaca County Timeline
This timeline provides a condensed summary of the historical journey of Lavaca County, Texas.
- 1846 - Lavaca County is established by the Texas legislature, carved out of parts of neighboring counties.
- 1849 - The first county seat is established in Hallettsville.
- 1852 - The oldest known courthouse in Lavaca County is built in Hallettsville.
- 1856 - The county's first newspaper, the Lavaca Democrat, is founded.
- 1861-1865 - Lavaca County residents support the Confederacy during the Civil War.
- 1867 - St. Peter's Lutheran Church, the oldest continuously active Lutheran congregation in Texas, is established in Hallettsville.
- 1873 - The Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway extends its tracks into Lavaca County.
- 1881 - A new courthouse is constructed in Hallettsville to replace the original courthouse.
- 1922 - The area around Lavaca County experiences a significant oil boom, leading to increased economic activity.
- 1936 - The current Lavaca County Courthouse, a Classical Revival-style building, is completed in Hallettsville.
- 1942-1945 - Many Lavaca County residents serve in World War II.
- 1997 - The Lavaca County Courthouse is added to the National Register of Historic Places.
- 2010 - Lavaca County celebrates its 150th anniversary since its establishment.
- 2018 - Lavaca County continues to be a predominantly rural area with a strong agricultural industry.