Architect: James Riely Gordon.
Year Built: 1898.
The Comal County Courthouse is located in New Braunfels, Texas. I have handled countless cases in Comal County and have had the pleasure of practicing in this courthouse (and the “new” annex) throughout my career as a real estate lawyer. This courthouse very much reminds me of Riely’s courthouse design in Lee County.
Here is an excellent resource about the Comal County Courthouse’s 2016 restoration. It includes many fantastic historical photographs.
From the historic marker:
In 1846 Comal County held its first court session in the home of its county clerk, Conrad Seabaugh. Courthouse facilities acquired in 1849 proved inadequate and were replaced with a 2-story building at the southeast corner of the city plaza in 1860. The building fell into disrepair and in 1898 the county chose famous Texas courthouse architect J. Riley Gordon to design a new courthouse. Gordon’s original design, incorporating four entrances compatible with the building’s proposed location at the center of the plaza, was nevertheless retained when this corner lot site was chosen instead .
Austin contractors Fischer and Lamie used stone quarried 10 miles north of New Braunfels on land owned by Texas/U.S.statesman Edward Mandell House to build this courthouse in 1898. The 3 1/2 story Romanesque-style structure features rounded pavilion entrances often employed by Gordon and includes dramatic massing and superb detail in its stone work.
A 1929-31 large stone jail addition was designed by Jeremiah Schmidt of New Braunfels. The courthouse underwent considerable interior and minor exterior renovations in 1966-67 and 1987.
The courthouse reflects New Braunfel’s German heritage and the spirit of Comal County at the turn of the twentieth century.
