142 of 254  Bosque County Courthouse, Meridian, Texas.  County Population:  18,212

Bosque County, Texas

"Settlement of the area began in 1825 when Sterling C. Robertson obtained a grant from the Mexican government in order to colonize the area along the Brazos River. Very few of the homesteaders chose to live within the current boundaries of Bosque County; however, the grant did prompt travel through the area.
"George B. Erath, a surveyor for both the Republic of Texas and the state of Texas, is credited with naming many of the streams and landmarks in Texas. In the late 1830s he named Meridian Creek and the Meridian Knobs for the fact that they were near the ninety-eighth meridian.
"Bosque County was officially formed in February 1854 from McLennan County. Soon a site was chosen at which to locate the county seat. Erath laid out the town of Meridian in the center of the county on land donated by Dr. Josephus M. Steiner.
"Town lots were sold at a public auction on the Fourth of July 1854. Soon thereafter, the first courthouse, a one-story log cabin, was erected in the middle of town. This building served the needs of the residents until 1869, when a larger frame structure was built. In 1871 this second courthouse burned. For four years the business of the county was conducted in a tent. In 1875 the third, and present, courthouse was completed, a three-story structure of native stone."
Kristi Strickland, "BOSQUE COUNTY," Handbook of Texas Online 

I visited Bosque County (pronounced BAHS ki) and photographed the courthouse in Meridian on Sunday, April 29, 2012. 

Approaching Meridian from the southwest, on State Highway 22, the new courthouse tower is clearly visible through the trees lining the Bosque River

Bosque County courthouse 1886

"The 1886 Bosque County Courthouse, designed by Ft. Worth architect J. J. Kane, is one of the oldest Texas courthouse structures in continuous use. The three story limestone building designed in high Victorian Gothic Revival style utilizing an Italianate off-center clock tower, corner turret roofs. In 1934, as part of a WPA project, the design was significantly altered with the removal of the clock tower and entire roof structure, steel windows replaced wood windows, and a small one-story addition to the west facade. A flat concrete roof and cast stone parapet incorporating a single clock face completed the changes.  By the 1970’s, contemporary lowered ceiling reduced the two-story district courtroom to half its original height and lowered the ceilings in most spaces to accommodate mechanical and electrical installations.
"Reconstruction of the original clock tower and the four corner roof turrets was the most dramatic change accomplished during the 2005-2007 restoration. These large elements were fabricated in Paris, Texas, trucked to Meridian, and craned into position with hundreds watching.
Completing the restoration, historic reproduction wood windows and entry doors were installed; the district courtroom, halls, and public spaces were reopened to their full height; the original concrete floors rehabilitated, and wood wainscot paneling reconstructed. The rededication celebration was held September 22, 2007."     From the THC website

The result of 1930's "improvements" Image courtesy courthousehistory.com

Image courtesy courthousehistory.com

The restoration of the Bosque County courthouse was designed by the Austin office of Architexas and implemented in 2 phases.  Phase I, interior mechancial, electrical and plumbing work, was completed in 2004.  Phase II, the full interior and exterior restoration, was completed in 2007.

Morgan Street, State Highways 22 and 174, crosses Meridian from southwest to northeast. This view of the courthouse is from a hill northeast of downtown

The courthouse square. The building fronts on Main Street, on the northeast side of the square. To the right is Morgan Street

The "new" towers and roofline were recreated in 2006-7

Everything above the stone cladding is new

Justice faces northeast

"Although the courthouse was centered on the square, requiring the usual entrance on each of the four sides, the plan, 83 feet by 85 feet 6 inches overall, differed slightly from some of the courthouses built in surrounding counties. On the south[east], [south]west, and north[west] sides, the doors are centered but on the [north]east, where the dominant tower was located, the entrance was shifted off-center to allow a ground-floor courtroom to be centered under the symmetrically positioned tower. Also on the ground floor were located the offices of tax collector, county judge, county attorney, and county treasurer. On the second floor were the district courtroom, offices for district judge, district clerk, and others. The courtroom extended the length of the building on a [north]east-[south]west axis and was entered at the sides from stair landings on the north[west] and south[east] -- an efficient arrangement or circulation. The judge's bench was located over the ground floor courtroom in the projecting mass framing the base of the tower."     From the National Register narrative

The back of the courthouse faces southwest, towards Erath Street. The double-height district courtroom windows are in the center of the building, above the first floor doors

"The first professional organization of architects in Texas, the Texas State Association of Architects, was formed in 1886.  The group, with twenty-two charter members including Nicholas J. Clayton of Galveston, Jasper N. Preston and Oscar Ruffini of Austin, and Alfred Giles of San Antonio, elected J. J. Kane of Fort Worth as its first president. TSAA was affiliated with the Western Association of Architects, a Chicago-based rival to the older, East Coast-based American Institute of Architects. According to the group's charter, TSAA's goal was to "unite in one common fellowship the architects of Texas; to combine their efforts, so as to promote the artistic, scientific, and practical efficiency of the profession; and to cultivate and encourage the kindred arts, and to correct unprofessional practices."    Joel W. Barna, "TEXAS SOCIETY OF ARCHITECTS," Handbook of Texas Online

The courthouse was built of beautiful white limestone obtained from a quarry near Meridian

A view of the courthouse square from the intersection of Morgan and Erath Streets, looking east

The view of Morgan Street from the northwest courthouse doors

The view of River Street from the southeast courthouse doors

"Still Life with Gas Meter and Cactus" on the southeast side of the square

View northwest on Main Street, at the intersection with Morgan Street

The First National Bank, 1889, now houses the Bosque County Tax Office

The First National Bank building and the courthouse beyond

Main Street. The International Order of Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F.) Building is across the street

A large home on the hills forming the west edge of the Bosque River valley. State Highway 6, on its way to Waco, runs parallel to the river in this area