October was my final courthouse road trip in 2014: Throckmorton, Archer, and Graham counties, plus a second visit to Stephens county. Since then, I've waited for spring to arrive in the upper Red River valley so I could begin what should be the final push to complete my first circuit of all 254 counties in Texas.
On Friday, May 8 I left Houston in the morning and drove west on I-10 to Sealy, then north on Highway 36 to Cameron, where I turned right on Highway 77 and followed it to Waco, seat of McLennan County. It has been a wet spring in Texas (how long has it been since we could say that?) and this weekend proved no exception. Light rain fell along my route until shortly before I arrived at the courthouse in Waco, where the sun was shining on the white dome of the McLennan County courthouse. This was my third visit to this courthouse. It had been partially covered in scaffolding the first two times, but no more. However, now Lady Justice, atop the dome, is missing her left arm and the scales of justice, too! I must find out what happened...
Okay, her left arm, with the scales of justice, blew off in a windstorm in 2014.
On Friday, May 8 I left Houston in the morning and drove west on I-10 to Sealy, then north on Highway 36 to Cameron, where I turned right on Highway 77 and followed it to Waco, seat of McLennan County. It has been a wet spring in Texas (how long has it been since we could say that?) and this weekend proved no exception. Light rain fell along my route until shortly before I arrived at the courthouse in Waco, where the sun was shining on the white dome of the McLennan County courthouse. This was my third visit to this courthouse. It had been partially covered in scaffolding the first two times, but no more. However, now Lady Justice, atop the dome, is missing her left arm and the scales of justice, too! I must find out what happened...
Okay, her left arm, with the scales of justice, blew off in a windstorm in 2014.
Leaving Waco in my rearview mirror, I continued north on I-35 to I-35W and through Fort Worth, where, just north of the city I exited onto US 287 and headed northwest to Wichita Falls. The weather was very nice that afternoon as I drove along US 287. It wasn't until I neared the Wichita County line that dark clouds began to appear on the horizon. I wasn't surprised. This area of the state had been experiencing daily build-ups of severe storms. Fortunately, I arrived in Wichita Falls about 4:30 PM and the storm didn't arrive until about 6:00! In the intervening period I had time to visit the Wichita County courthouse in all its "altered beyond recognition" glory.
For a town of its size, Wichita Falls has a lot of highways. US 287 is elevated as it crosses south of downtown. In case you're in big rush to get past Wichita Falls, I suppose.
A view of downtown from the northeast corner of the courthouse square. There seems to plenty of available lease space in these buildings.
The Wichita County courthouse faces east. The original, classical revival building is hidden beneath a 1980's skin. Not unlike the fate of the Midland County courthouse, among others.
The criminal justice industry continues to support big building projects. Such as this addition to the southwest corner of the Wichita County courthouse.
I made it to the Candlewood Suites in Wichita Falls just before the weather "deteriorated" and heavy rain, high winds and hail descended on the city. And so ended day one of my trip.
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