Architect: Martin, Byrnes & Johnston
Year Built: 1886
From the Texas Historical Commission:
The Hamilton County Courthouse, originally built in 1887, was transformed by efforts to modernize and expand the building in 1932. It embodies eclectic elements of style from the Richardsonian Romanesque (crenellated square turrets, round arch windows), the Neoclassical (pedimented porticoes supported by classical fluted columns), and the Spanish Revival style (mission-inspired tower). The limestone masonry is said to have been quarried locally, including the expertly-crafted rustication and hand-scribed corner quoins. Most charming of all are the cast stone medallions over each of the four secondary entries depicting frontier icons, such as a cowboy, sheep, and a shorthorn cow.
The 1932 interior corridors feature linoleum flooring and formica wainscoting, as shown in the original construction drawings. The twin stairs to the second floor surround an expansive, double-height district courtroom. Curved oak veneer wainscot and schoolhouse pendant light fixtures adorn the space, capped by a flat barrel-vaulted ceiling. An elliptical concrete bench circles the courthouse, predating the 1932 remodel.
A 1931 remodel removed the clock tower and Second Empire style mansard roof.
