012 of 254 Guadalupe County Courthouse, Seguin, Texas. County Population: 163,030
Guadalupe County
Guadalupe County, Texas
"Much of the land given to Texas veterans for their service during the revolution was located in what became Guadalupe County. A company of Texas Rangers commanded by Capt. John Coffee Hays set up camp at Walnut Springs near the Guadalupe River. In 1838 a group of former Texas Rangers and other settlers founded the community of Walnut Springs on the northeast bank of the Guadalupe; its name was changed to Seguin in 1839 to honor Juan N. Seguin. The presence of troops encouraged many incoming families to stay near Seguin until the area became more secure. As a result, Seguin developed earlier and more rapidly than other communities in the future county and became the region's center of social and economic life. It was the natural choice for county seat when Guadalupe County was formed.
"The Republic of Texas organized Guadalupe County as a judicial county in 1842, but discontinued it later that year when the Texas Supreme Court declared judicial counties to be unconstitutional. In March 1846, after the annexation of Texas to the United States, the legislature established the present county from parts of Bexar and Gonzales counties. Guadalupe County ... lost land in 1858 and 1874, when Blanco and Wilson counties were organized."
Vivian Elizabeth Smyrl, "GUADALUPE COUNTY," Handbook of Texas
I visited Guadalupe County and photographed the courthouse in Seguin on June 8, 2009 and again, on August 11, 2012.
"The Republic of Texas organized Guadalupe County as a judicial county in 1842, but discontinued it later that year when the Texas Supreme Court declared judicial counties to be unconstitutional. In March 1846, after the annexation of Texas to the United States, the legislature established the present county from parts of Bexar and Gonzales counties. Guadalupe County ... lost land in 1858 and 1874, when Blanco and Wilson counties were organized."
Vivian Elizabeth Smyrl, "GUADALUPE COUNTY," Handbook of Texas
I visited Guadalupe County and photographed the courthouse in Seguin on June 8, 2009 and again, on August 11, 2012.
Guadalupe County Courthouse 1889
Alfred Giles, architect
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Image courtesy courthousehistory.com
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The Alfred Giles design for the 1891 courthouse is identical to the Wilson County courthouse in Floresville, designed by Giles in 1884.
Guadalupe County courthouse 1935 Image courtesy courthousehistory.com |
Image courtesy courthousehistory.com
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The current courthouse dates from 1935. The architects were L.M. Wirtz & Harold Calhoun. (They also designed the Burnet County courthouse.) The style is "federal" with Art Deco details. Given the tight fit on the block, there isn't room for additions. Thank goodness. The building is simple, elegant, and in re-latively good condition. Increased security at courthouse has resulted in the closing of the four primary entrances to the building. What a shame.
The north facade
The public entrance is now on the ground floor, below the light towers
View from the north facade
The courthouse doors are no longer used. The public entrance is now on the ground floor.
It's not a real pecan
The east facade
The south facade faces a second square, complete with a gazebo and fountain
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