254 Texas Courthouses
  • Home
  • Chronological Order (of my visits)
  • County List (alphabetical)
  • County Seat List (alphabetical)
  • Texas Courthouse Blog
  • James Riely Gordon, Architect
  • Eugene T. Heiner, Architect
  • Henry T. Phelps, Architect
  • Alfred Giles, Architect
  • Corneil G. Curtis, Architect
  • Wesley Clark Dodson, Architect
  • Lang & Witchell Architects
  • Voelcker & Dixon, Architects
  • Wyatt C. Hedrick, Architect
  • David S. Castle, Architect
  • Page Brothers, Architects
  • James Edward Flanders, Architect
  • Pierce, Norris, Pace & Associates, Architects & Engineers

184 of 254  Van Zandt County Courthouse, Canton, Texas.  County Population:  55,970

Picture
Van Zandt County, Texas
"Van Zandt County covers 855 square miles, with altitudes ranging from 421 to 573 feet. The Neches River rises in eastern Van Zandt County, and the Sabine River forms part of the northeastern county line.
"Van Zandt County was established by the legislature in 1848 from part of Henderson County and named for Republic of Texas leader Isaac Van Zandt. Sabine Lake (Jordan's Saline) was named the county seat, a crude log courthouse was built, and court was held for the first time in December 1848. In 1850 Wood County was carved out of Van Zandt County, and the Van Zandt county seat was moved to Canton.
"In 1873 ... the Texas and Pacific Railway was completed through the northern portion of the county.  The railroad, however, brought new problems as well. Wills Point, which grew up as railroad point, quickly emerged as one of the county's leading shipping centers. In 1877 an election was held for relocating the county seat from Canton to Wills Point.
"Wills Point was declared to be the county seat." The commissioners court ordered county records removed from Canton to Wills Point, but a force of 500 men led by Thomas Jefferson Towles marched on the town to bring the records back.  Governor Richard B. Hubbard had to order troops into the county to restore order. A short time later the supreme court ruled the election void and ordered the records were returned to Canton, ending the so-called 'Wills Point War.' "
Gerald F. Kozlowski, "VAN ZANDT COUNTY," Handbook of Texas Online
I visited Van Zandt County and photographed the courthouse in Canton on Saturday, July 13, 2013.
Picture
Picture

Van Zandt County Courthouse 1894

Picture
Image courtesy courthousehistory.com

Architect James Riely Gordon designed the 1894 courthouse, using his ubiquitous diagonal axis plan and Richardsonian Romanesque style.  Compare this building, demolished in 1935, to Comal, Ellis, Gonzales, Hopkins, Lee, and Wise county courthouses by Gordon.  The loss of this historic courthouse was very unfortunate.
Picture
The cornerstone and eagle from the historic 1894 courthouse are displayed on the southeast corner of the courthouse square.
Picture
Picture

Van Zandt County Courthouse 1936

Picture
Image courtesy courthousehistory.com
Picture
Photograph, circa 1939, courtesy TXDOT
Architects Voelcker & Dixon, in association with M.T. Clements, designed this replacement for the James Riely Gordon courthouse.  The style is decidedly "Moderne Federal," typical of the 1930's approach to creating iconic civic buildings that were at heart, functional and rational office buildings with a massing and style that acknowledged the monumental without resorting to traditional historic styles. 
Picture
The courthouse faces north and slightly east, on Dallas Street
Picture
The building sits on a raised plinth, creating a level site
Picture
The front is sufficiently solemn and symmetrical, befitting a civic building
Picture
Picture
Picture
The courthouse steps
Picture
View from the courthouse steps, on Dallas Street
Picture
The northwest corner of the courthouse, at the intersection of Dallas and Buffalo Streets
Picture
The southwest corner of the courthouse square, at the intersection of Buffalo and Tyler Streets
Picture
The southwest corner of the courthouse
Picture
The west doors of the courthouse
Picture
The south side of the courthouse is the "back"
Picture
The west façade of the courthouse, on Buffalo Street
Picture
The south façade of the courthouse, on Tyler Street
Picture
A courthouse annex on Groves Street
Picture
Picture
Picture
A partial view of the First Monday grounds in Canton
Proudly powered by Weebly