Round XI Grants June 2020
Welcome to 254 Texas Courthouses: the Texas Courthouse Database
This website is dedicated to a Texas architect and photographer I've long admired and strive to emulate, Richard Payne, here and here.
Richard Payne, FAIA: 1935 - 2018
RECENT UPDATES: #2 Wharton County, #14 Lavaca County, #16 Washington County, #29 Polk County, #31 Jefferson County, #38 Blanco County, #39 Llano County, #41 Kerr County, #42 Bandera County, #48 Tarrant County, #49 Cameron County, #77 Jim Wells County, #78 Duval County, #81 Goliad County, #82 Victoria County, #83 McLennan County, #84 Falls County, #85 Robertson County, #87 Grimes County, #95 Wilson County, #98 Karnes County, #99 DeWitt County, #100 Bexar County, #104 San Saba County, #108 Limestone County, #109 Newton County, #127 Webb County, #129 Jim Hogg County, #136 Navarro County, #138 Johnson County, #152 Lynn County, #160 Howard County, #161 Glasscock County, #203 Dickens County, #212 Franklin County
September 2019: In progress photos of the Fannin County restoration are here. My contact in Fannin County writes: The Fannin County Courthouse restoration project is progressing at a snail’s pace. Since I sent the last pictures, the black mastic moisture barrier that was applied during the 1965 remodel has finally been removed. That was a huge undertaking because the Texas Historical Commission would only allow certain methods for its removal in an attempt to do as little damage as possible to the stone. I felt that was a good thing because if the county had taken it upon itself to remove it, they probably would have sandblasted it and done irreparable damage to the salvageable stone. The total cost of the restoration has increased considerably due to the fact that the stone is in much worse shape (as a result of the 1965 remodel) than was first believed. The contractors are in the process of reopening one of the original rock pits south of Honey Grove (Fannin County) that was used for the 1888 construction. This will ensure that the stone is the right color and composition. Another subcontractor is working offsite to construct the gables that will be installed with a crane once they are ready for them. In the next two to three weeks, workers will begin removing the roof and “concrete ring beam” that was installed after the fire in 1929. The restoration will take around two additional years than first thought. The Texas Historical Commission has already declared that the Fannin County Courthouse will be the most expensive restoration of any courthouse in Texas. In my mind and in the majority of most Fannin County citizens...it will be worth it! I look forward to the day that I can send pics of the courthouse with dramatic changes!!! Jason
Download the THC's Courthouse Maintenance Manual HERE
Original Irion County courthouse, Sherwood, Texas.
There are 254 counties in Texas: Anderson to Zavala.
According to the Texas Historical Commission, "Texas has more historic courthouses that any other state. Today more than 234 courthouses still stand that are least 50 years old."
As of May 9, 2016, I have visited all of them at least once, photographed their courthouse(s), and whatever else is of interest to me, and have posted all 254 county pages on this website. This is not just a collection of pretty pictures, by the way. I post the good, the bad, and the mediocre. There's plenty of each...believe me, I've seen them all!
I'm an architect. I live and work in Houston.
Buildings and their surroundings interest me. I'm also intrigued by Texas: its geography, history, and cultures. My interest in visiting all 254 county courthouses started with a display in St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital in Houston. The display features a tribute to Dr. Mavis Kelsey, one of the pioneers of Texas courthouse photography. I was fascinated by Dr. Kelsey's story of casually visiting the county seats of east Texas and then, before long, taking on the entire state. His book, The Courthouses of Texas, would become my guide. In the spring of 2012 I had the honor of meeting Dr. Kelsey, then 100 years old, at his home in Houston. It was a pleasure to sit and talk with him about Texas and his memories of counties and courthouses. Of course, he autographed my copy of The Courthouses of Texas, too! UPDATE: Dr Mavis Kelsey, 101, died on November 12, 2013, at his home in Houston.
Following that, in April 2007 I had the opportunity to attend a lecture by my friends, Lisa Hardaway and her partner/husband, Paul Hester, about their photographs for the book Historic Texas Courthouses. They inspired me, to say the least. I was particularly taken by their photos of the original Irion County courthouse in Sherwood, Texas. I had never heard of Irion County, let alone Sherwood.
But, my quest really began with the influence of my uncle, Clark Brannan, of Abilene. He and I share a love of Texas history and travel. And railroads, but that's another website, although more than a few railroads photos have made it into this website.
On May 5, 2007, a month after acquiring my copy of Historic Texas Courthouses, Clark took me to Gail, in Borden County. There we stopped to admire the Borden County courthouse and jail, set in the proverbial middle of nowhere in west Texas in a rugged landscape. I photographed the buildings and what little there was to the "town" of Gail, the largest community in this county of about 600 population, set in a rugged western landscape.
I was hooked. However, it took a couple of years for my case of the Texas courthouse "infection" to take root.
Two years later, in May of 2009 Clark and I set off on a day-long trip south and west of his home in Abilene. One of my goals on this beautiful spring day was to visit Sherwood. And so we did. Along with Ballinger, San Angelo, Mertzon, Sterling City and Robert Lee. All county seats, by the way.
At that point there was no holding me back. I had to see them all. All 254 of them.
Actually, I've learned there are more than 254 courthouses in Texas. There are "only" 254 counties, but several have more than one courthouse. Good for me!
This website will document my travels, my photos, and my impressions of the Texas courthouse and its context. On May 9, 2016, nine years after I began my project, I visited Dalhart, the seat of Dallam County in the northwest corner of the Texas panhandle. That afternoon I completed by first circuit of the 254 Texas counties. At this point I've been from "A" to "Z"; from Anderson County to Zavala County.
As Willie Nelson sings: "On the road again, goin' places that I've never been, seein' things that I may never see again. On the road again."
Leonard G. Lane, Jr.
leonardlane@gmail.com
(Unless noted otherwise, all photographs on this website are the property of and copyrighted by Leonard G. Lane, Jr. All rights are reserved.)
According to the Texas Historical Commission, "Texas has more historic courthouses that any other state. Today more than 234 courthouses still stand that are least 50 years old."
As of May 9, 2016, I have visited all of them at least once, photographed their courthouse(s), and whatever else is of interest to me, and have posted all 254 county pages on this website. This is not just a collection of pretty pictures, by the way. I post the good, the bad, and the mediocre. There's plenty of each...believe me, I've seen them all!
I'm an architect. I live and work in Houston.
Buildings and their surroundings interest me. I'm also intrigued by Texas: its geography, history, and cultures. My interest in visiting all 254 county courthouses started with a display in St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital in Houston. The display features a tribute to Dr. Mavis Kelsey, one of the pioneers of Texas courthouse photography. I was fascinated by Dr. Kelsey's story of casually visiting the county seats of east Texas and then, before long, taking on the entire state. His book, The Courthouses of Texas, would become my guide. In the spring of 2012 I had the honor of meeting Dr. Kelsey, then 100 years old, at his home in Houston. It was a pleasure to sit and talk with him about Texas and his memories of counties and courthouses. Of course, he autographed my copy of The Courthouses of Texas, too! UPDATE: Dr Mavis Kelsey, 101, died on November 12, 2013, at his home in Houston.
Following that, in April 2007 I had the opportunity to attend a lecture by my friends, Lisa Hardaway and her partner/husband, Paul Hester, about their photographs for the book Historic Texas Courthouses. They inspired me, to say the least. I was particularly taken by their photos of the original Irion County courthouse in Sherwood, Texas. I had never heard of Irion County, let alone Sherwood.
But, my quest really began with the influence of my uncle, Clark Brannan, of Abilene. He and I share a love of Texas history and travel. And railroads, but that's another website, although more than a few railroads photos have made it into this website.
On May 5, 2007, a month after acquiring my copy of Historic Texas Courthouses, Clark took me to Gail, in Borden County. There we stopped to admire the Borden County courthouse and jail, set in the proverbial middle of nowhere in west Texas in a rugged landscape. I photographed the buildings and what little there was to the "town" of Gail, the largest community in this county of about 600 population, set in a rugged western landscape.
I was hooked. However, it took a couple of years for my case of the Texas courthouse "infection" to take root.
Two years later, in May of 2009 Clark and I set off on a day-long trip south and west of his home in Abilene. One of my goals on this beautiful spring day was to visit Sherwood. And so we did. Along with Ballinger, San Angelo, Mertzon, Sterling City and Robert Lee. All county seats, by the way.
At that point there was no holding me back. I had to see them all. All 254 of them.
Actually, I've learned there are more than 254 courthouses in Texas. There are "only" 254 counties, but several have more than one courthouse. Good for me!
This website will document my travels, my photos, and my impressions of the Texas courthouse and its context. On May 9, 2016, nine years after I began my project, I visited Dalhart, the seat of Dallam County in the northwest corner of the Texas panhandle. That afternoon I completed by first circuit of the 254 Texas counties. At this point I've been from "A" to "Z"; from Anderson County to Zavala County.
As Willie Nelson sings: "On the road again, goin' places that I've never been, seein' things that I may never see again. On the road again."
Leonard G. Lane, Jr.
leonardlane@gmail.com
(Unless noted otherwise, all photographs on this website are the property of and copyrighted by Leonard G. Lane, Jr. All rights are reserved.)
The Texas courthouse at mid-twentieth century: Kent County, Jayton, Texas
