Lee County Courthouse
Giddings, TexasBuilt in 1897 in Romanesque Revival architectual style by architect J. Riely Gordon by contractor Sonnefield, Emmins, & Albright, San Antonio.
Designed by J. Riely Gordon in 1897 and built by Sonnefield, Emmins and Albright of San Antonio, the Lee County Courthouse displays a combination of a variety of structural masses. Similar to many of Gordon's Texas courthouses, the building's design employs the Romanesque Revival style. The three-story red brick building rests on a raised limestone base and is decoratively trimmed with rusticated limestone arches, foliated capitals, lintels and stringcourses. Blue granite employed in the steps and in the polished columns supporting the arcades adds to this striking color contrast. Most of the building's windows are trabeated, but the large stone arches, typical of the Romanesque Revival style, are present in the gallery arcades, entrance doors, dormers and clock tower. A limestone beltcourse around the first and third floors forms the window lintels on these floors, while the second floor windows contain single stone lintels. The building has a cruciform layout with two-story, quarter-circular entrance galleries set in the northeast and northwest re-entrant angles. Two three-story, quarter-circular bays, with open arcades on the first level and enclosed floors on the second and third levels, are located in the southeast and southwest re-entrant angles. Each bay is crowned with a brick parapet with punched brick detail. Each wing of the courthouse is covered by a hipped roof. Large dormers project from three of the wings, while a chimney rises from the rear (south) wing. Two additional dormers are set within the northeast and northwest re-entrant angles. Cross-hipped roofs crown the three-story, quarter-circular bays in the southeast and southwest re-entrant angles. Rising from the center of the mass is a tall, square brick tower with tall arcaded openings and a clock. The tower ends abruptly, however, for it lacks the pyramidal roof that Gordon typically employed. The interior ornamentation displays a variety of colorsÑtypical of Gordon's designs. The ground floor is finished with a border composed of different colored marble tiles. The district courtroom, enhanced by attractive woodwork, has a high stamped metal ceiling and a gallery that is supported by iron columns. Besides a few minor changes, such as the removal of the iron fence that once surrounded the block and the replacement of the slate shingles with sheet metal that simulates shingles, there have been no significant alterations to the original 1898 courthouse.
-1978 rehabilitation; -1989 new roof and porch repairs.
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 city of Austin, the state capital, is known as the live music capital of the world. It is home to many music festivals, including South by Southwest (SXSW) and the Austin City Limits Music Festival.
During its early years, Lee County experienced significant growth and development. The arrival of the railroad in the late 1800s opened up new opportunities for trade and transportation. The county became known for its cotton production, and many rural communities emerged to support the farming industry. The county seat, Giddings, became a thriving commercial center, with businesses and institutions establishing themselves to meet the needs of the growing population.
The 20th century brought both challenges and progress to Lee County. The devastating effects of the Great Depression hit the agricultural sector hard, leading to a decline in cotton farming. However, the county adapted and diversified its economy, venturing into cattle ranching and the production of other crops. In the mid-20th century, the discovery of oil and natural gas reserves in the area brought a new wave of economic growth.
Lee County has also played a significant role in Texas history. It is home to the Monument Hill and Kreische Brewery State Historic Sites, which commemorate the fallen soldiers of the Dawson Massacre and the Texas Revolution. Today, Lee County continues to be a rural and historically significant part of Texas, with a strong sense of community and a blend of diverse cultural influences.
Lee County Timeline
This timeline provides a condensed summary of the historical journey of Lee County, Texas.
- 1874: Lee County is established on February 11, named after Robert E. Lee.
- 1878: The town of Giddings is established as the county seat.
- 1881: The Texas and New Orleans Railroad is completed, leading to increased economic growth in the county.
- 1907: Lee County Courthouse is built, replacing the original courthouse constructed in 1878.
- 1920s: Cotton becomes a major crop for the county, leading to prosperous years for local farmers.
- 1960s: The decline of cotton production begins, and farmers shift to other crops and livestock.
- 1996: The Lee County Youth Center is opened to provide juvenile offenders with rehabilitative services.
- 2011: The county is severely affected by drought and wildfires, causing significant damage to agricultural lands.
- Present: Lee County continues to be primarily an agricultural area, with a growing emphasis on diversifying the local economy.