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 Unexpected events delay my courthouse project (UPDATED)

9/2/2013

6 Comments

 
Picture
Brazoria County courthouse, Angleton, TX
Two weeks ago, on Sunday, August 18, I drove to Angleton and re-photographed the Brazoria County courthouse(s).  Upon returning home that afternoon, I felt ill, with a fever and chills.  I took a long nap and felt better, but Monday morning I was worse, with fever, chills and pain in my lower abdomen.  Thinking I had a "bug," I took pain relievers and stayed in bed.  Tuesday morning the abdominal pain was much worse.  I visited my primary care physician that morning and was quickly sent to the nearby St. Joseph's ER in downtown Houston.  At CT-scan confirmed that I was suffering form severe Diverticulitis, an infection of the colon.  The surgeon told me that I would need surgery to remove a portion of my colon and to install a temporary colostomy.  I was admitted to the hospital and a day later, Thursday, August 22, I was operated on at St. Joseph's.  
I remained in the hospital until the following Tuesday, the 27th, when I was allowed to go home.  
I've since learned that only 6% of Diverticulitis cases required surgery.  Too bad I fell within this small group! 
I am now recovering, slowly and with some pain, from the necessary trauma inflicted on my body in order to save it.  I understand that in a couple of months, when everything has stabilized and the doctors are certain the infection is gone, I will undergo a second operation to remove the colostomy and re-attached my colon.  Following a second recovery period, I should be good to go. 
Given the way I feel today, a courthouse road trip is out of the question. I've canceled my panhandle trip scheduled for September 12-16 and will take a "wait and see" position.  Frankly, I may not be able to travel and photograph courthouses at all this fall/winter.  
I'm very disappointed, but grateful  for the ability of medical personnel to cure me.  In the meantime, I'm resting and taking the first steps towards returning to work.  Courthouse website work will follow as I gain sufficient energy and concentration.  (I have a backlog of 11 new counties to keep me busy.)
UPDATE October 6, 2013
My surgeon has scheduled by second operation for Monday, October 14, 2013.  I am eager to is get this surgery over with and begin my recovery!  Cheers!
 
6 Comments
Bob G ... aka ... Da.Owl
9/2/2013 10:27:52 pm

Best wishes for a speedier than normal recovery. Got to get you back to the FB and BB games :-)

Reply
Wayne Wendel link
9/19/2013 03:21:18 pm

Leonard, I follow your blog regularly as I am also a courthouse fanatic. I look forward to your insight as an architect for your description of the building, courthouse square and community. I am one fan wishing you a speedy recovery.
Wayne Wendel 153/254

Reply
Wilton Woods
10/6/2013 06:20:56 am

Found your great website just in time to read of your health problems. Good luck for a speedy recovery. We all want you to continue your fine work on this subject.

Reply
Wilton Woods
10/6/2013 06:58:40 am

When you get well and get back on the road, stop in Seguin again.

The handsome Municipal Building a block north of the Courthouse is by the same architects, Lewis Wirtz and Harold Calhoun, of Houston. During the Depression they did a number of buildings on what is now the Texas State (former Southwest Texas) campus in San Marcos, and the Texas A&M-Commerce (former East Texas State) campus, but not sure any of those remain. (I'm trying to write a Wikipedia entry on the Lewis and Calhoun, but the records are thin. Damn, its only been 75 years. LOL.

Facing the courthouse square in Seguin, seen in your photos in fact, are the Romanesque Revival bank building (now a branch of Wells Fargo) by the Master of Texas courthouses, J. Riely Gordon. On the next corner, the Starcke store was designed by Atlee B Ayers (who also knew of courthouses), with an addition 20 years later by his son Robert Ayers.

I was very glad to see the pictures of the fountain, by artist unknown, done in the mid-30s like the courthouse. Not sure how you overlooked the statue of Juan Seguin on the city square, or the fine (National Register listed) Plaza hotel by Leo M.J. Deilmann.

If you run out of courthouses, LOL, many city halls are worthy of note, and post offices. They don't get the attention the courthouses do, but they deserve some respect.

But thanks again for all you do.

Reply
Wayne Wendel
10/19/2013 03:23:43 am

Glad to hear your positive progress and I'm looking forward to more courthouses. My wife and I are headed to west Texas Monday for three days, keep blogging.

Reply
Joyce Gray
11/18/2013 01:36:40 am

I just saw the article in County Magazine on the website. It is awesome. I would like to add a few comments about the Sherwood courthouse. I live right behind it and give historical tours, so next time you are here, let me know and I can give you even the ghost tour. A couple of items of information. The clock is painted on (never has been a working clock) to commemorate the time of President Lincoln's death. The owls on the front represent Wisdom and strength through the oak leaves and on the other side Wisdom and peace through the olive branches. There are no owls on the other doors. Guess the local government officials or the contractors wanted to remind those entering of aspects we should all strive for. The walls have been completely redone inside and heating and cooling added. We have Christmas at the Old Sherwood Courthouse on December 14th - Come by and have a look. The courthouse survived two threats to its life - one when the county seat moved and Mrs. W W Carson, the same one that saved Fort Concho, bought it and the second time when Mr. Crabb sold it to the Sherwood Community Association. The little white building across the street is the original Sherwood Post Office and we are trying to restore and open it as my husband and I bought it to save it from being torn down. Lastly, I work in the courthouse in Mertzon and tell you some about it too. Joyce Gray

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    Author

    Leonard G. Lane, Jr., AIA
    leonardlane@gmail.com
    I wasn't born in Texas but I got here as soon as I could.  I'm an architect.  And, a photographer on the side.
    I live in Houston, with my wife, Donna.  After our daughter, Hilary, passed the Texas Bar exam she took the oath as an attorney in the historic Harris County courthouse on Friday, November 15, 2013.

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