092 of 254: Houston County Courthouse, Crockett, Texas. County Population: 23,732
Houston County, Texas
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"The Old San Antonio Road, the most important of several caminos reales in the future state of Texas, crossed the county, and travel and trade were carried on over this route for a hundred years before any permanent settlements were made.
"In 1837 the boundaries of Houston County [the first county established by the Republic of Texas] were laid out and its government was organized. It was named for President Sam Houston, who signed the order establishing the county on June 12, 1837. Upon its formation from Nacogdoches County in 1837, Houston County included the territory that later became Trinity and Anderson counties and part of Henderson County. Land was donated for the county seat by Andrew E. Gossett, who named it for his father's friend and former Tennessee neighbor, David Crockett." Eliza H. Bishop, "HOUSTON COUNTY," Handbook of Texas Online "Crockett is said to have camped near the townsite in January 1836 on his way to San Antonio. County officials chose the site because of its proximity to the Old San Antonio Road. The town was incorporated on December 29, 1837, and a post office opened there on March 31, 1838. "In 1865 the courthouse and most of the town burned, so that most of the county's early records were lost." Eliza H. Bishop and Christopher Long, "CROCKETT, TX," Handbook of Texas Online I visited Houston County and photographed the courthouse in Crockett on April 10, 2011 and September 22, 2017.
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Houston County Courthouse 1883
W.C. Dodson, Architect. Image courtesy courthousehistory.com
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Image courtesy courthouse history.com
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Houston County courthouse 1939
Image courtesy courthousehistory.com
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Photograph, circa 1939, courtesy TXDOT
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Blum E. Hester of Crockett was the architect for this federal/art deco style building. It was a WPA funded project. The building remains pretty much original.
The Round VIII Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program grant recipients were announced on April 30, 2014 by the Texas Historical Commission at its quarterly meeting. Houston County: $89,182 grant award for complete replacement of new built-up roof with a new roofing system to resolve long-term water leaks, high humidity and associated damage to interior plaster walls and ceilings.
The Round VIII Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program grant recipients were announced on April 30, 2014 by the Texas Historical Commission at its quarterly meeting. Houston County: $89,182 grant award for complete replacement of new built-up roof with a new roofing system to resolve long-term water leaks, high humidity and associated damage to interior plaster walls and ceilings.
The east facade of the courthouse is on 5th Street.
The northeast corner of the courthouse at the intersection of 5th and Houston.
The north facade of the building faces Houston Avenue.
The west facade faces 4th Street. Sadly, the clocks don't work.
The southwest corner of the courthouse, at 4th and Goliad.
The east-west axis of the building.
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The north-south axis of the building.
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The U.S. Post Office in downtown Crockett.
