Tuesday, August 23, the 1910 Harris County courthouse was rededicated after a 5 year, 65 million dollar restoration.
http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Restored-courthouse-brings-history-to-life-2138217.php
Unfortunately, I couldn't attend the ceremony.  However, I will visit the building later this week and post a photo.

I left Jasper about 9 AM Sunday and drove north on US 96 to Bronson.  This area of southeast Texas is beautiful:  rolling hills and dense forests.   At this hour the temperature was in the 80's, not bad compared to the previous afternoon in Jasper and Newton.  Turning right at Bronson I drove east a few miles to the Sabine County seat, Hemphill.  It was a quiet Sunday morning and I had the town square to myself. 

The courthouse dates from 1906 but the building has had its share of alterations over the years.  According the Texas Historical Commission a 1909 fire damaged the top two floors and the roof.  Reconstruction in 1910 added a hipped roof in lieu of the original flat one.  Apparently there was a dome that was removed in 1938.   The little courthouse is battle-worn but still standing.  

Leaving Hemphill I drove north and then west through more hills and forests, arriving at San Augustine about 11 AM.  The San Augustine courthouse has been fully restored and is a beauty.  The architect was Shirley Simmons.  The simple lines and tasteful details are just right.    Fortunately, there haven't been any additions or alterations to the courthouse to date.. 

Leaving San Augustine, I drove south, crossing Lake Sam Rayburn, or what's left of it.  I stopped for lunch in Zavalla and was treated to a Texas style buffet consisting of way over cooked vegetables and chicken "fingers."  Moving on, I took  US 69 into Woodville, seat of Tyler County.  The poor Tyler County courthouse has been modified and butchered over the years beyond recognition.  The original 1891 design by architects Glover & Hodges was in the ever popular Second Empire style, with a Mansard roof and large ornate tower.  Alas, in the 1930's the Mansard roofs were removed, the brick skin stuccoed over, and the tower modified.  The current condition begs for a full restoration.

A few minutes south of Woodville is the county seat of Hardin County, Kountze.  I had seen photos of the current 1959 courthouse so I was prepared for the real thing.  Believe me, photographs don't do it justice.  It's far worse than I had expected.  For starters, it's not in a square or related to the town of Kountze in any traditional way.  Rather, the long, low building is sited along Highway 326 on the outskirts of town.  Over the years a new addition, housing the county jail, has been added at one end and then, in 2008, a replica of the dome of the previous 1904 courthouse was "planted" near the courthouse entrance.  In my opinion there's nothing quite so sad as a dome without its supporting building.  This is just dumb!  On the other hand, it does distract one from the 1959 building looming behind. 
Thus ended my 6 courthouse "Big Thicket" tour.  Granted, it ended on a low note, but there's always the next courthouse to look forward to...

Day one of my Big Thicket road trip.  I left New Orleans this morning about 11 AM and crossed the Sabine River on US 190 about 3 PM.  The first thing I noticed upon returning to Texas was how much hotter it was in my home state than across the river in Louisiana.  Seriously, my car's thermometer read 95 in Louisiana and 100 in Texas.  
My first stop was Newton County, the "eastern-most" county in Texas.  This Second Empire style courthouse was designed by none other than Martin & Moodie, architects of the Irion County courthouse in Sherwood (#005).  The courthouse (circa 1902) burned in 2000 and I was expecting the restoration to be complete by now.  Well, it almost is complete, but there are several incomplete items on the exterior, including 3 of the 4 gable ends, which were covered in building paper that had been exposed to the weather for awhile.  Looking through the windows I could see the interior was finished but unoccupied.
I walked around the exterior, trying not to wilt in the intense heat.  In the early 1980's an unfortunate but all too common addition had been imposed on the 1902 building.  The addition houses the Newton County Sheriff's offices.  I went inside and spoke with a female deputy through a thick (bullet-proof?) glass.  "When will they finish the construction?"  I asked.  She replied "If you find out, please let us know!"  Apparently the construction process has come to a halt and locals are in the dark as to why.  My guess:  problems with the contractor.  Regardless, I'll call the Texas Historical Commission next week and try to find out what is holding up the completion.  (Followup:  I've been assured the project is getting back on track and will be finished very soon.)

A few miles west of Newton is Jasper County.  The Jasper courthouse dates from 1889 and was originally designed by architect Eugene T. Heiner, the designer of the Wharton County courthouse (#002).  It was even hotter in Jasper:  103 degrees.  Once again, I walked around the square, photographing the courthouse and surrounding buildings.  This building has been repeatedly altered and boasts several additions.  The tower was even removed in 1957 and later replaced.  (The 1950's and 60's were not kind to historic buildings.)  At least the original building still remains, although covered in a later coat of stucco. 
I'm spending the night in Jasper at the Holiday Inn Express (shameless plug).  For dinner, I went to the restaurant recommended by the hotel staff:  the Cedar Tree.  Well, Saturday night is the "all you can eat" seafood buffet at the Cedar Tree.  It was full!  I did manage to get a table, but after 15 minutes of being ignored by the staff, I left without trying the fried frozen seafood buffet.  Judging from the customers surrounding me, it was "filling."
Next I tried Martin's Mexican restaurant.  The service at Martin's was fast and friendly and, most importantly, they served beer.  (The Cedar Tree did not.)  But, in order to purchase beer one has to "join" a club.  Wow!  I hadn't run across this practice in years.  This was common decades ago, but is still the law in Jasper.  No problem:  the beer was cold and I was thirsty.  So, now I'm a proud member of Martin's Mexican restaurant club.  (No charge for membership, by the way.)  Salud!

Monday:  the website is finally "propagated" and available for viewing.  I spent the weekend creating the first four courthouse pages.  Now I'm only 104 counties behind!
Bad news department:  http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7697219.html
The linked article from the Houston Chronicle describes the effects of our state-wide drought on the small town of Robert Lee, seat of Coke County.  (number 7 on my chronological list).  When I visited Robert Lee in May 2009 there had been plentiful spring rains.  Not so today.  Read the story and remember this is not an isolated event in 2011

When I began my courthouse project in 2007 I had no idea where it would lead or what form it would take.
Well, actually, I did know "where" it would lead:  to 254 county seats and the roads in between.
However, in the beginning I didn't realize what a monumental task this was.  254 counties is a LOT!  
Thankfully, I quickly realized just how much fun it was to visit all of these places in Texas that I otherwise might never have heard of, let alone visit.  Rock Springs, for example.  Or, Center, which isn't in the "center" of Texas at all.
Regardless, I soon learned that getting there is half the fun, or more, sometimes.
My process is simple:  there is no particular order.  The only order I've imposed on myself is the last courthouse I'll photograph:  Harris County, in Houston, my hometown.  Otherwise, I'll take 'em whatever order I find them.  Although I do draw the line at Christmas decorations.  So, December is out.  (Regardless, many courthouses have permanent lighting installations for the holidays.  It's just too difficult to put them up and take them down each year.)
As I begin this blog, on August 10, 2011, I've already visited and photographed 108 county seats and courthouses.  A few of them will require additional visits since the courthouses were undergoing restoration when I first visited.
I've been posting my photos and comments in albums on my Facebook page for a couple of years.  However, I've decided now that I have developed a feel for my subject matter and a good stock of photos it is time to broaden my reach.  So, welcome to 254texascourthouses!