Touchstone is pleased to introduce to you the courthouse artwork of Bill Morgan. The complete collection of Mr. Morgan's courthouse artwork may be found in his book, "Old Friends: Great Texas Courthouses."
"Old Friends: Great Texas Courthouses" brings together, for the first time, the complete collection of Bill Morgan's courthouse artwork. Each courthouse was recreated by Mr. Morgan using markers, pencil , and ink on watercolor paper. These characterizations of 71 if Texas' most splendid and unique courthouses were previously only available through Morgan's popular calendar series. Now it can be purchased in this 12" X 19", full color, hard-cover, coffee-table format from Landmark Publishing. Go to Barnes and Noble to order this book.
Bexar County
The Bexar County Courthouse was built in 1892 in San Antonio, Texas by James Riely Gordon and partner D.E. Laub. The courthouse spreads more than a city block long, covering 400 feet. In 1989, a maintenance crew punched a hole in a fourth-floor wall and discovered a lost 14-by-14-foot room. Accidentally and completely sealed off in some long-ago remodeling project, the room held a few pieces of furniture, a 1946 San Antonio phone book and a large pickle barrel.
Clay County
The Clay County Courthouse was built in 1884 in Henrietta, Texas, which is one of 21 originals still operating and one of the state's oldest. Clay County was named after Henry Clay and the county seat was named for his wife, but they got her name wrong. Mrs. Clay's first name was Lucretia, not Henrietta as they thought at the time.
Coryell County
The Coryell County Courthouse was built in 1900 by Wesley Clarke Dodson in Gatesville, Texas. The Courthouse was named for James Coryell, member of Bowie Expedition in 1831 and a Texas Ranger, killed by Indians. The Courthouse is known for its brilliant red trim and bronze eagle on top. In a 1986 - 88 restoration, a replica of the bronze eagle was designed, facing south over Leon Street, just as the original. Cowboys would get drunk and shoot at it. When they removed the glass from the clock just below the eagle, there were a lot of bullet holes in it.
Dallas County
The Dallas County Courthouse was built on November 16, 1890, in Dallas, Texas, and has been nicknamed "Old Red." The courthouse survived blowing its top in 1919, periodic attempts to raze it since the '30's, ghosts in its belfry and drunks in its basement, attacks by nature and by gunmen, a vanishing act by one of its "griffins" (those crouching gargoyles on the roof), and the roping, removal and lynching of a man on trial in one of its courtrooms.
Denton County
The Denton County Courthouse was built in 1858 by B.M. Street in Denton, Texas. The courthouse burned in 1875. Officials figured that a cohort of badman Sam Bass torched the building, trying to destroy an indictment. The next courthouse was built in 1877, which lasted 17 years and was hit by several political fights and one lightning bolt. A grand jury condemned it as unsafe in August 1894 and lightning reportedly struck it in September, causing more damage. The final courthouse designed by architect Wesley Clarke Dodson was built between 1895-1897.
Ellis County
The Ellis County Courthouse was built in 1895 - 1897, a pink granite a limestone masterpiece, built by James Riely Gordon, in Waxahachie, Texas. One night in 1896 a thunderstorm spooked a herd of 600 cattle. They stampeded to the square and milled around under the calming light of the courthouse. Then another clap of thunder would restart the stampede, and the herd would eventually return to the lights. Finally, somebody turned off the lights the night nobody in Waxahachie got any sleep 'til the cows came home.
Harris County
The Harris County Courthouse was built in 1883 by Edward J. Duhamel in Houston, Texas. However, after 24 years it was overcrowded and considered a firetrap, so it was demolished. In April 1907, a new courthouse was constructed by the Dallas firm Lang & Witchell. The building was virtually completed by November 15, 1910, but its formal dedication was delayed until March 2, 1911, the 75th anniversary of Texas' independence and 180th anniversary of Sam Houston's birth.
Hill County
The Hill County Courthouse was built in 1889 by the firm of Lovell, Miller & Hood in Hillsboro, Texas. The courthouse sits at the edge of the state's second-largest population concentration, just over a mile from Interstate 35, the bell tower once visible for miles across the rolling prairie. In 1933, a notorious gangster Raymond Hamilton, and two fellow inmates broke out of the Hill County jail, grabbed a car and raced to a nearby gas station owned by Henry Singletary and O.M. Belk. As the car screeched to a halt, one of the desperados jumped out, pushed Belk out of the way and inserted a gas hose in the tank. Gas spewed everywhere. "The gas tank is already full!" the escapee yelled, jumping back on the running board as the car sped away.
Hopkins County
The Hopkins County Courthouse was built in 1895, made of granite and sandstone by James Riely Gordon in Sulphur Springs, Texas. Hopkins County is known for its monopoly on the dairy business and the longest unimpeded view of a classic Nineteenth Century courthouse in the state - The view is still there.
Johnson County
The Johnson County Courthouse was built in 1913 by the Dallas firm of Lang & Witchell in Cleburne, Texas. Johnson County was created February 13, 1854, named for Col. Middleton T. Johnson , a hero of the Mexican War, and from the start the county had spirited county-seat campaigns. The courthouse is named the 1913 Texas Renaissance Courthouse.
Lamar County
The Lamar County Courthouse was built by Barry & Smith in 1917 in Paris, Texas. One of the first actions in the new building was ordering the hanging of an enlarged picture of former County Judge Charles Neathery in the Hall.
McLennan County
The McClennan County Courthouse was built in 1902 by James Riely Gordon in Waco, Texas. McClennan County Courthouse is known for the statue Themis standing atop the dome of the courthouse, with a sword clutched in her right hand and the scales of justice in her left hand. In 1969, a storm registering winds of 65 miles per hour snapped off the scales of justice, slamming them into the street below.
Montague County
The Montague County Courthouse was built in 1911 by Architect George Burnett in Montague, Texas. The Courthouse originally boasted an ornate dome on top that helped make the building the envy of counties across the state. A major storm struck and left the dome a wreck. However, the residents could not afford to build another dome, so they substituted the dome with a small rectangular shed, which sits on top of the courthouse.
Navarro County
The Navarro County Courthouse was built in 1905, a rare Beaux Arts courthouse. Navarro is a bedrock of history. Comanches and Kiowas hunted its hills, fought its settlers, stole Cynthia Ann Parker and reared her as tribal royalty. Navarro County was named for pioneer-politician Jose Antonio Navarro, and Corsicana's name comes from his father's birthplace of Corsica.
Parker County
The Parker County Courthouse was built in 1884, designed by J.M. Milliken in Weatherford, Texas. The Courthouse has four clocks on the tower, one facing each direction. In 1976, a couple showed up at the courthouse seeking a marriage license. The clerk sized them up and called the sheriff, who caged the lovebirds overnight on a charge of public intoxication. The 50-year-old bride-elect awoke the next morning, took an aspirin and another look at her 62-year-old intended and called it off.
Somervell County
The Somervell County Courthouse was built in 1893 in Glen Rose, Texas. Somervell County is one of the smallest counties in Texas, being 191.8 square miles. There is only one other county smaller than Somervell. Litigation Avenue in Glen Rose, Texas was named by a developer who ended up in court arguing about who owned title to lots on the street where he planned a new development.
Tarrant County
The Tarrant County Courthouse was built in 1893 in Fort Worth, Texas. The final tab for building this courthouse was $420,000.00. The courthouse's granite and marble blocks and columns were quarried in Burnet County in the Hill Country. The stone was hauled to the construction site, where it was chiseled to exact specification by stonemasons making $1.50 per day.