Presidio County Courthouse
TexasBuilt in 1880 and contractor William Jenkins.
The courthouse was built of adobe, in a 'U' shape around a courtyard with a high wall and gate enclosing the courtyard. The building was covered with moderately pitched gable roofs, and had numerous doors and double hung windows facing onto the surrounding landscape. (Edwards, 36) The courthouse and jail occupied the current site of the Jeff Davis County Courthouse and were accepted by the county on May 29th. The Presidio courthouse was nicknamed the 'Bat Cave Courthouse.' It is uncertain whether this name was inherited from the previous jail which was actually just a bat infested cellar under a house or whether the name refers to the jail built beneath the sheriff's office in the new courthouse, accessible only from a trap door in the floor. In the county history by Cecilia Thompson, a vivid 1880 description from an unknown source is given: The jail at Fort Davis was of Mexican model, and was little less than a dungeon. The main building was a square, adobe structure, with the rooms in the center and doors opening on the outside into the courtyard. The jail was in one corner of the building, and blasted out of the solid rock to a proper depth, then covered over the top by strong timbers securely fastened. The egress was a trap door. No light was there. And into this place of utter darkness the captured outlaws were placed. (Thompson, vol. 1, 156) By May of 1883, county officials decided that the 1880 courthouse was already unfit for use. The Commissioners voted to advertise for the location and construction of a new courthouse and jail in the Apache Rocket, a Fort Davis newspaper. In June of that year, the court deemed the present building insufficient and unfit for use, and condemned the structure. They declared, 'Imperative necessity exists for the building of a new courthouse and jail.' (Commissioner's Court Minutes, 6/11/1883) Again the court advertised in the local newspaper as well as the San Antonio Express. The Commissioners requested: 'Said courthouse to be two stories high and the jail to be strong and durable, with all modern improvements and one story high. The courthouse to have a large room upstairs for the purposes of a courtroom and also two rooms for jury rooms. The lower story to be cut up into offices for the different county officers. Said building to have proper ventilation and communication- Said buildings to be of rock and the jail of large rock. Said buildings not to exceed $30,000 in cost.' The bids were opened August 13, 1883. The following day all of the bids for the construction of a new courthouse and jail were rejected. No further mention of new court facilities is made in the records until the county seat was relocated to Marfa in 1885. It is likely that this building later became the first courthouse for Jeff Davis County when it was organized around Fort Davis in 1887.
1880: January 16, contract awarded to William Jenkins to build a new courthouse & jail. (Jennings?) ; 1880 May 29: county approves courthouse & jail.
Current status: razed c. 1910
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 Battle of San Jacinto fought on April 21, 1836, was the decisive battle of the Texas Revolution, and led to the capture of Santa Anna and the end of the conflict.
During the 19th century, Presidio County played a significant role in the Texas Revolution and the Mexican-American War. Fort Leaton, a well-preserved adobe fort, served as an important staging point for both conflicts. In 1848, the Amistad Expedition, a slave rebellion, took place in the county. This event resulted in international controversy and contributed to shifting attitudes towards slavery in Texas.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Presidio County experienced growth and development due to several factors. The arrival of the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1882 spurred economic activity and brought more settlers to the area. Agriculture, particularly ranching and farming, became the primary industries. The county's proximity to the Rio Grande also made it an important trade hub.
However, Presidio County faced challenges and hardships as well. The Mexican Revolution, which began in 1910, had a significant impact on the region due to its borderland location. Smuggling, violence, and instability became prevalent, affecting the county's economy and population. Today, Presidio County reflects its diverse history, with cultural influences from Native American, Spanish, Mexican, and American settlers shaping its identity.
Presidio County Timeline
This timeline provides a glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped the history of Presidio County, Texas.
- 1850 - Presidio County established as one of the original 36 counties of Texas
- 1854 - Fort Defiance established near Presidio to protect against Native American raids
- 1875 - Presidio County seat moved from Fort Davis to Marfa
- 1882 - Marfa and Presidio connected by the Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway
- 1884 - The Chinati Mountains declared a federal game reserve, later becoming Chinati Mountains State Natural Area
- 1933 - Marfa becomes a major cattle-shipping center with the construction of the Presidio County Courthouse
- 1998 - Marfa becomes known as an arts destination, after the artist Donald Judd establishes the Chinati Foundation