F.E. & Oscar Ruffini

Fredrick Ernst (known as F.E.) (?-1885) and Oscar Ruffini (1858-1957) were brothers.  Born in Cleveland, Ohio of first generation immigrants, the brothers lived and designed many significant architectural projects in Texas in the second half of the 19th century.  F.E. Ruffini opened an office in Austin in 1876.  Oscar briefly joined him there in 1878 before traveling to France.  "When, in 1883, Elijah E. Myers of Detroit was awarded the commission to design the Texas Capitol, Oscar, the better draftsman of the Ruffini brothers, spent the next six months at Myers' Detroit office working on plans for the project, after which he returned to his brother's office to work as a draftsman and project supervisor, involved in part with plans for the main building of the University of Texas."   F.E. Ruffini died in Austin on November 16, 1885.  The Texas State Archives house a collection of F.E. Ruffini's drawings for nine Texas courthouses, in Georgetown, Franklin, San Marcos, Sulphur Springs, Quitman, Longview, Corsicana, Blanco, and Henderson.

Apparently, for health reasons, Oscar Ruffini moved to San Angelo, Texas in 1884.  (The move worked wonders - he lived to the age of 99!) There, he became the supervising architect for the Tom Green County courthouse, designed by

Bastrop County Courthouse

Blanco County Courthouse

Callahan County Courthouse

Concho County Courthouse

Crockett County Courthouse

Mills County Courthouse

Robertson County Courthouse

Sutton County Courthouse

Tom Green County Courthouse