Site of Third County Courthouse

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker says about the site of Young County's third courthouse, right there in Graham, Texas. Now settle in, because this story's got layers. Young County was organized in 1856, and the town of Belknap was named the county seat from the start.

But then the Civil War came along, frontier troops pulled back, and with renewed Indian trouble pressing in, the county records had to be moved, all the way to Jacksboro, in 1865. The county wasn't reorganized until 1874, and when it was, Graham took the seat. That's where our story plants its flag.

The courthouse at the heart of this marker was built in 1884, and it was something to behold. Two stories tall, built from native sandstone quarried east of Graham by Irish workers. The man shaping those stones was N.

J. Rosenquist, a native of Sweden and a builder of Texas courthouses, serving as chief stonemason. Now here's the part that makes you stop and think.

The building was laid out in the form of a Greek cross, with two halls following the very points of the compass. North, south, east, west. That archway standing today, the only piece that survives, that belonged to the east hall.

When that courthouse went up in 1884, the county's business was carried by a full roster of officials: County Judge R. F. Arnold, Treasurer J.

W. Wadley, County Clerk C. O.

Joline, Tax Assessor J. G. Hill, County Attorney J.

A. Woolfolk, Sheriff W. T.

Bunger, and County Commissioners W. C. Blakey, J.

J. Hughes, J. Mercer, and H.

D. Williams. Those names are in the record now, and the marker makes sure they stay there.

The courthouse stood witness to the records of many historic events of Young County across its years. Then in 1932, after the completion of a new structure, it was razed. Gone.

Almost entirely gone. Except that in 1936, during street improvements, a man named A. A.

Morrison, the fire marshal, led the efforts to preserve that historic archway. One stonemason's careful work, one fire marshal's stubborn stand, and a single arch is all that's left to tell the tale. Sometimes that's enough.

What the marker says

Young County was organized in 1856 with Belknap designated as county seat. After retreat of frontier troops during Civil War, county records were moved to Jacksboro 1865 during renewed Indian trouble. County was reorganized 1874 with Graham, county seat. Courthouse (of which only archway remains) was built 1884. Native sandstone for the two-story structure was quarried east of Graham by Irish workers. N. J. Rosenquist, a native of Sweden and builder of Texas courthouses, was chief stonemason. Building had two halls in form of Greek cross--a plan that followed points of the compass. (Archway belonged to east hall.) Officials at the time of construction were: County Judge, R. F.Arnold; Treasurer, J. W. Wadley; County Clerk, C. O. Joline; Tax Assessor, J. G. Hill; County Attorney, J. A. Woolfolk; Sheriff, W. T. Bunger; County Commissioners, W. C. Blakey, J. J. Hughes, J. . Mercer and H. D. Williams. Courthouse was razed in 1932 after completion of present structure. A. A. Morrison, fire marshal, led efforts to preserve historic archway during street improvements in 1936. During its existence, this Courthouse witnessed and preserved the records of many historic events of Young County.