Swisher County Courthouse
Tulia, TexasBuilt in 1909 by architect Elmer George Withers.
Original structure was built in 1907 in Renaissance Revival style, with walls of red brick and details of tan sandstone. The original had projecting central bays and pedimented entrances. Each bay had pediments and a large finial on the roofline. The base of the structure was rusticated stone. The building was capped by a central octagonal dome.A 1962 remodeling removed all of the historic architectural elements and clad the building in brick. The character was completely altered beyond recognition and two winged additions were added the same year.
1962 - Clock tower and upper floor removed, wings added to north and south sides. Dramatically altered by Architects Rittenberry & Rittenberry with Timmons Construction Co. as the contractor. State financed marker rejected.
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.
Texas is known for its love of football, and the state has produced many great football players, including legends like Tom Landry, Earl Campbell, and Vince Young.