J. M. Hansbro's Law Office

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, straight from the historical record of San Jacinto County. Now, some buildings just go through life quiet and dignified. And then there are buildings like this one.

J. M. Hansbro's Law Office was built in 1870, and right from the start it had a kind of stubborn usefulness about it.

The San Jacinto County Abstract Co. called it home for many years. County records, property lines, the whole paper skeleton of the place, kept right inside those walls. And somewhere along the way, somebody ran a line and installed the county's very first telephone in that building.

The first voice to crackle across a wire in all of San Jacinto County, doing it right there in a law office. Now, the story doesn't stop there. In 1915, fire destroyed the first courthouse.

A new town site was selected, and Coldsprings had to start fresh. And when the town moved, this building moved with it. It became the first structure moved to the new Coldsprings.

Think about that. The town is gone, the courthouse is ash, and what do they grab first? The law office.

Some things, a county just isn't willing to leave behind.

What the marker says

Built 1870. First structure moved to new Coldsprings after fire destroyed first courthouse, 1915. A new town site was selected. The San Jacinto County Abstract Co. was housed in this building many years. County's first telephone was installed here. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1967