Lee County Courthouse

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, and here's how I'm gonna tell it to you. Now, before we get into this courthouse, let me set the scene for you. We're sittin on the crest of a divide, right up on that ridge separating the Colorado and Brazos River basins.

Two great river systems, pullin in opposite directions, and right there in the middle, Lee County put up one of the more ambitious courthouses in the state of Texas. That alone ought to tell you something about the attitude of the people who built it. When Lee County lost its first courthouse to fire in 1897, they didn't just slap together something to get by.

No sir. They went and hired J. R.

Gordon, a man with serious ambitions, and Gordon designed something along the lines of the New York State Capitol. The New York State Capitol. He also drew inspiration from several buildings at Harvard University.

For a Texas county courthouse, that is swinging for the fence. The style is classified as Richardsonian Romanesque, named after the famous Louisiana-born architect Henry H. Richardson.

Massive stonework, rounded arches, a presence that says this building is not going anywhere. And to bring it all to life, they brought in Sonnefield, Emmins and Abright out of San Antonio, who finished the job in 1899. Two years after the fire, Lee County had a courthouse that looked like it belonged in the company of some of the most celebrated buildings in the country.

Still sittin right there on that divide, watching over two river basins, not movin an inch.

What the marker says

Designed by J. R. Gordon along lines similar to New York State Capitol and several buildings at Harvard University. Classified as Richardsonian Romanesque style, after the famous Louisiana-born architect Henry H. Richardson. Built by Sonnefield, Emmins and Abright of San Antonio, 1899. Replaced first courthouse, which burned 1897. Located on crest of divide separating the Colorado and Brazos River basins.