Taylor County courthouse, Abilene.
While visiting with relatives in Abilene I took time to tour the downtown area on Sunday afternoon. I wanted to photograph the Taylor County courthouse again, along with some of the significant buildings in downtown Abilene.
The Taylor County page (courthouse #69) is now updated and contains many new photographs. Here's a view of the east facade with the recently completed building for prisoner drop-off and pick-up in the foreground.
The Taylor County page (courthouse #69) is now updated and contains many new photographs. Here's a view of the east facade with the recently completed building for prisoner drop-off and pick-up in the foreground.
Taylor County courthouse, east facade.
Now, on to Day Four of the Road Trip. I left Abilene on Monday morning, May 21 and drove west to Colorado City, seat of Mitchell County. Colorado City is, like Abilene and Sweetwater, on Interstate 20. So, it was a quick trip. The Mitchell County courthouse was designed by Abilene architect David S. Castle in 1924. It's a run of the mill classical revival building in average condition for its age. Unfortunately, at some point, with the installation of air conditioning, the majority of windows on the upper floors were covered over. This approach to keeping buildings cooler is common in west Texas. It works, but at the cost of natural light and appearances in general.
East facade, Mitchell County courthouse, Colorado City, Texas.
By the way, it's named Colorado City because it's on the Colorado River, like several other Texas county seats: Robert Lee (Coke County), Ballinger (Runnels County), Austin (Travis County), Bastrop (Bastrop County), La Grange (Fayette County), Columbus (Colorado County), and Wharton (Wharton County). To the best of my knowledge and belief, Colorado City completes the list of eight county seats on the Colorado River. Whew!
Leaving Colorado City I drove south on Highway 163 through beautiful, if desolate country, to Sterling City, seat of Sterling County. Here's a nicely sited ranch house, a few miles north of Sterling City.
Leaving Colorado City I drove south on Highway 163 through beautiful, if desolate country, to Sterling City, seat of Sterling County. Here's a nicely sited ranch house, a few miles north of Sterling City.
This was my second visit to Sterling City. Uncle Clark and I came through here on May 11, 2009. This was early on in my courthouse project (Sterling County is #6) and I didn't take nearly enough photographs that day. So, here I was again, on a beautiful spring day. By the way, this courthouse is also the work of Abilene architect David S. Castle.
Sterling County courthouse, Sterling City. 1938
The courthouse is in very good, original condition. I love the map of Texas with metal silhouette sculptures! During this visit I also stopped by the restored Sterling City railroad station. It's a classic train station, abeit without a railroad!
Leaving Sterling City I traveled one of my favorite Texas roads, State Highway 158 east to Robert Lee in Coke County. This road leaves Sterling City in the Concho River valley and quick climbs onto a broad mesa; a tabletop now covered in wind turbines. For mile after mile, on both sides of the road, the hugh white windmills turn slowly in the wind. Then, as the you near the Colorado River valley, the road suddenly descends into a very different landscape, complete with cliffs and low mountains on all sides. Not exactly the Rockies, but pretty good for west Texas. Approaching Robert Lee, the nearly dry E.V. Spencer Reservoir is a reminder of the ongoing drought in these parts of Texas. But, I was here to re-visit the Coke County courthouse.
District courtroom, Coke County courthouse. 1956
The courthouse was closed on the day of my first visit in 2009. I wanted to see the interior space behind the very modern glass block sun-screens on the exterior of this Wyatt Hedrick design. This was my chance.
The effect is marvelous. The light is subdued and not harsh at all. A far better solution than simply covering over the windows as was done in Mitchell County. Well done, Mr. Hedrick. Here's the exterior.
I had a very good lunch at a diner in Robert Lee (chicken fried steak, of course!) and then headed north to Abilene on another lovely road, U.S. Highway 277. Don't tell everyone, but the landscape south of Abilene is beautiful. Too bad Abilene was located by the Texas & Pacific Railway and not by yours truly. If it were up to me, Abilene would have been located in Happy Valley, a real location on Highway 277.
I arrived back at the Brannan's house in time for Clark and me to visit the Abilene Public Library in search of information on the architect David S. Castle. We were pleased to find a number of documents, including many press clippings about David Castle. I'm doing research on his life and practice in Abilene, where he lived and was an active architect from 1914 until his death in 1956. He designed seven Texas courthouses, along with an impressive portfolio of residential and commercial buildings. Here are some examples found in Abilene.
I arrived back at the Brannan's house in time for Clark and me to visit the Abilene Public Library in search of information on the architect David S. Castle. We were pleased to find a number of documents, including many press clippings about David Castle. I'm doing research on his life and practice in Abilene, where he lived and was an active architect from 1914 until his death in 1956. He designed seven Texas courthouses, along with an impressive portfolio of residential and commercial buildings. Here are some examples found in Abilene.
The Texas & Pacific station, Abilene.
The Paramount Theater, Abilene. The interior is a superb fantasy of Arabian Nights come to west Texas!
The Hotel Wooten, Abilene. 1930
The Goodloe Residence, Abilene.
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