007 of 254 Coke County Courthouse, Robert Lee, Texas. County Population: 3,320
Coke County is named for Richard Coke, a Texas governor.
Coke County, Texas
"The terrain includes prairie, hills, and the Colorado River valley; sandy loam and red soils predominate. The elevation varies from 1,800 feet in the south to 2,600 feet in the north, where Nipple Mountain, Meadow Mountain, Horse Mountain, and Hayrick Mountain are located. Its 911-square-mile area is drained by the north branch of the Colorado River and Yellow Wolf Creek.
"The Texas legislature established Coke County in 1889, carving it out of territory previously assigned to Tom Green County; the county was organized that same year, with Hayrick as county seat. In 1891, after an election, the new town of Robert Lee became the county seat; Robert E. Lee had once served at Fort Chadbourne [in Coke County].
In 1907, when the Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway built tracks north out of San Angelo,the little towns of Tennyson, Bronte, and Fort Chadbourne lay near the line, and residents moved their business centers to enjoy the benefits of transportation. The county seat, Robert Lee, was not on the tracks, but managed to survive nonetheless."
William R. Hunt and John Leffler, "COKE COUNTY," Handbook of Texas
Robert Lee describes itself as "the playground of west Texas." I first set foot in Robert Lee on May 11, 2009. My initial visit was brief, as my Uncle Clark and I were returning home from a long day of touring west central Texas. My next visit was on May 21, 2012. This time I stayed awhile.
"The Texas legislature established Coke County in 1889, carving it out of territory previously assigned to Tom Green County; the county was organized that same year, with Hayrick as county seat. In 1891, after an election, the new town of Robert Lee became the county seat; Robert E. Lee had once served at Fort Chadbourne [in Coke County].
In 1907, when the Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway built tracks north out of San Angelo,the little towns of Tennyson, Bronte, and Fort Chadbourne lay near the line, and residents moved their business centers to enjoy the benefits of transportation. The county seat, Robert Lee, was not on the tracks, but managed to survive nonetheless."
William R. Hunt and John Leffler, "COKE COUNTY," Handbook of Texas
Robert Lee describes itself as "the playground of west Texas." I first set foot in Robert Lee on May 11, 2009. My initial visit was brief, as my Uncle Clark and I were returning home from a long day of touring west central Texas. My next visit was on May 21, 2012. This time I stayed awhile.
A painting of Fort Chadbourne in northeast Coke County. While there are hills in the area, the "mountains" in the background have since been moved to New Mexico!
Coke County Courthouse 1891
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Coke County courthouse, 1891. Image courtesy courthousehistory.com
The cornerstone of the 1891 courthouse, displayed in front of the current courthouse, states: "Martin Byrns & Johnson Archts & Contractors"
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The tower is missing. Circa 1939. Photo courtesy TXDOT
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Another view without the tower. Image courtesy courthousehistory.com
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Wilson Bryan Mini Park, Robert Lee, Texas. The Coke County courthouse is across 7th Street.
Coke County Courthouse 1956
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The front of the courthouse faces northeast, on 7th Street. The 1891 courthouse cornerstone is in the center of the photo, in front of the flagpole.
Looking northeast, the view from the courthouse entrance. The Robert Lee City Hall is on the left, under the awning.
The back of the courthouse faces southwest, on 6th Street. The stone wall may be the wall visible in the 1939 TXDOT photo above.
The northwest side of the courthouse.
The southeast side of the courthouse. Electrical service entrance and emergency generator are found here.
Deep sunscreens shade the glass block fenestration on the second floor courtroom walls that face southwest and northeast.
The southwest side of the second floor courtroom.
The northeast side of the second floor courtroom. Glass blocks let in a diffused light.
Austin Street, at the northeast corner of the courthouse square. The Wilson Bryan Mini Park is on the right,
The former Coke County jail is undergoing restoration. Apparently, the sheriff lived on the first floor and the prisoners were on the second floor.
A nice example of a stone clad house in Robert Lee.
