Hudspeth County Courthouse

Last updated
Hudspeth County Courthouse
Hudspeth county courthouse 2009.jpg
Hudspeth County Courthouse
Relief map of Texas.png
Red pog.svg
Hudspeth County Courthouse
Usa edcp relief location map.png
Red pog.svg
Hudspeth County Courthouse
Location201 W. Millican St.,
Sierra Blanca, Texas
Coordinates 31°10′47″N105°21′25″W / 31.17972°N 105.35694°W / 31.17972; -105.35694
Area1 acre (0.40 ha)
Built1919 (1919)
ArchitectBradford Hardie of Beutell & Hardie, El Paso
Architectural style Spanish Eclectic, Mediterranean Classic Revival
Website www.hudspethcountytexas.us
NRHP reference No. 75001993 [1]
TSAL No. 8200000373
RTHL No. 2591
Significant dates
Added to NRHPMay 21, 1975
Designated TSALMay 28, 1981
Designated RTHLAugust 1962

The Hudspeth County Courthouse is located in the town of Sierra Blanca, the seat of Hudspeth County in the U.S. state of Texas. The courthouse was constructed in 1919 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. The Texas Historical Commission (THC) has also designated the building as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark since 1962 and as a State Antiquities Landmark since 1981. The county is named for Claude Benton Hudspeth who served as a U.S. representative from El Paso and previously in both houses of the Texas Legislature where, as a member of the Texas Senate, he was influential in the county's creation.

Contents

The courthouse is located in Sierra Blanca's central commercial district and holds the distinction of being the only remaining Texas courthouse of adobe construction. The one-story building features a mixture of Spanish Eclectic and Mediterranean Classic Revival architecture.

The courthouse has received renovations over the years supported by federal and THC funding, and has served as a meeting place for local clubs and organizations.

Description

The courthouse is situated in central Sierra Blanca in the center of a block bounded by West Brown Street to the north, North Archie Avenue (Farm to Market Road 1111) to the east, West Millican Street to the south, and North Williams Avenue to the west. The building's facade and main entrance face southward toward Millican St. [2] The building's official address is 201 West Millican Street. The single-story building is constructed from adobe made from local materials with 18-inch (46 cm) walls and is the only remaining adobe courthouse in the state. The building features Spanish Eclectice and Classic Revival styles with Mediterranean influences including Italian and Spanish Colonial Revival design elements. The exterior holds side and central arcades with arched windows but otherwise is of simple design with minimal decorative ornamentation enhancing the native construction material. [3]

The T-shaped structure holds 14,000 square feet (1,300 m2) of floor space including a small basement. The interior has wooden flooring above the basement but otherwise concrete slab floors resting directly upon the ground. In addition to county offices, the building includes a courtroom and other related court spaces. [3]

The block upon which the courthouse is located is a two-block compound within the town's street grid, although the would-be dividing street terminates to the north. The courthouse square, comprising the courthouse itself, surrounding lawn, and supporting infrastructure, makes up the middle half of the courthouse block minus parking areas on all sides. Two half-block areas, one on each side of the square and each separated from the square by a drive, hold newer buildings containing additional county offices. [2] In addition to the state historical marker commemorating the courthouse's distinction as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, [4] the square holds an historical marker recounting the Confederate occupation of Fort Quitman in the southern portion of the county along the Rio Grande during the Civil War. [5]

History

Hudspeth County was created by the Legislature in 1917 from adjacent El Paso County. The legislation appointed a temporary county Commissioners Court charged with organizing the county government including the performance of the tedious and time-consuming requirements to do so such as performing a census estimate, defining election precinct and district boundaries for office holders, conducting elections for county offices, reconciling tax rolls with El Paso County, and settling the new county's pro rata share of debt previously incurred by El Paso County. [6]

Despite these challenges, the county was sufficiently organized to construct the courthouse in 1919 hiring architect Bradford Hardie [7] of the architectural firm Beutell & Hardie [8] [9] from El Paso to design the building. Hardie began living in El Paso in 1906 at the age of six and graduated from El Paso High School before pursuing an architectural degree from Cornell University. His design of the courthouse was influenced by his architectural education and the works of other contemporary El Paso architects including Henry Trost. [3] The building was damaged by an earthquake in 1924 likely becoming the only state courthouse to have ever required earthquake-related repair. [3]

The courthouse was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in August 1962. [4] [10] The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 21, 1975 [7] and declared a State Antiquities Landmark on May 28, 1981. [11]

The foundation and adobe structure, including new plaster and paint, were repaired in 1983 with funding from a federal grant while the roof was replaced in 1991. [9] Under the benefit of a grant of $1,650,847, [12] a major renovation was conducted between 2002 and 2004 as part of the THC's Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program. This renovation included new piers structurally reinforcing the foundation in order to support the building's thick adobe walls, a new metal shingle roof, and the removal and replacement of exterior stucco. Interior enhancements incorporated electrical, mechanical, and plumbing upgrades along with the installation of an elevator and fully accessible restrooms. [13]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hudspeth County, Texas</span> County in Texas, United States

Hudspeth County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,202. Its county seat is Sierra Blanca, and the largest community is Fort Hancock. The county is named for Claude Benton Hudspeth, a state senator and United States Representative from El Paso. It is northeast of the Mexico–U.S. border.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sierra Blanca, Texas</span> County Seat & Unincorporated community in Texas, United States

Sierra Blanca is an unincorporated area in Hudspeth County, Texas, United States. It is also the county seat of the county and the namesake of a census-designated place (CDP) in which it is located. The town is part of the Trans-Pecos region of far West Texas, is located northeast of the Mexican border and is within the Mountain Time Zone. As of the 2010 census, its population was 553.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Texas Historical Commission</span> Agency of the State of Texas, United States

The Texas Historical Commission is an agency dedicated to historic preservation within the U.S. state of Texas. It administers the National Register of Historic Places for sites in Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magoffin Homestead</span> Historic house in Texas, United States

Magoffin Home is located in El Paso, Texas. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. The surrounding area was declared the Magoffin Historic District on February 19, 1985. The home is now known as the Magoffin Home State Historic Site under the authority of the Texas Historical Commission.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ysleta Mission</span> United States historic place

The Ysleta Mission, located in the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo within the municipality of El Paso, Texas, is recognized as the oldest continuously operated parish in the State of Texas. The Ysleta community is also recognized as the oldest in Texas and claims to have the oldest continuously cultivated plot of land in the United States.

Fort Quitman was a United States Army installation on the Rio Grande in Texas, United States, south of present-day Sierra Blanca, 20 miles southeast of McNary in southern Hudspeth County. The fort, now a ghost town, was named for former Mississippi Governor John A. Quitman, who served as a major general under Zachary Taylor during the Mexican–American War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Architecture of Fredericksburg, Texas</span>

The architectural structures of Fredericksburg, Texas are often unique to the Texas Hill Country, and are historical edifices of the German immigrants who settled the area in the 19th Century. Many of the structures have historic designations on a state or national level. The Gillespie County Historical Society is actively involved in assisting with preservation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gonzales County Courthouse</span> United States historic place

The Gonzales County Courthouse is located in Gonzales, capital of the county of the same name in the U.S. state of Texas. It was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1966 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Llano County Courthouse and Jail</span> United States historic place

The Llano County Courthouse and Jail were erected separately, but added to the National Register of Historic Places in Texas on December 2, 1977 as one entry. The courthouse, located in the middle of Llano's historic square, was built in 1893. The exterior is made of sandstone, marble, and granite. The interior of the courthouse was damaged by fire in 1932 and again in 1951. It is still in use today by local government. The jail was erected in 1895, with the prisoner cells on the second and third floors, and the ground level solely for the office and living accommodations for the sheriff and his family. The jail was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark 1979, Marker 9448. The courthouse was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark 1980, Marker number 9446.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wilson County Courthouse and Jail</span> United States historic place

The Wilson County Courthouse and Jail are located in Floresville, Texas. They were added to the National Register of Historic Places in Texas in 1978 and the courthouse as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1984.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Presidio County Courthouse</span> United States historic place

The Presidio County Courthouse is located in Marfa, Presidio County in the U.S. state of Texas. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. It was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1964.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alfred Giles (architect)</span> American architect

Alfred Giles was a British architect who emigrated to the United States in 1873 at the age of 20. Many of the private homes and public buildings designed by Giles are on the National Register of Historic Places and have been designated Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks. Based in San Antonio, his buildings can be found predominantly in south Texas and northern Mexico. Giles is credited with "a profound influence on architecture in San Antonio."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff Davis County Courthouse (Texas)</span> United States historic place

The Jeff Davis County Courthouse is located in the town of Fort Davis, the seat of Jeff Davis County in the U.S. state of Texas. The courthouse was constructed between 1910-1911 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002. The Texas Historical Commission (THC) has also designated the building as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark since 2000 and, along with the surrounding courthouse square, as a State Antiquities Landmark since 2003. The surrounding county and county seat, along with the nearby historic frontier fort at Fort Davis National Historic Site, are named after Jefferson Davis, who served as U.S. war secretary at the time of the establishment of the fort and the town, and who would later become president of the Confederate States of America during the Civil War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fayette County Courthouse and Jail</span> United States historic place

The Fayette County Courthouse and the Fayette County Jail are two historic buildings in La Grange, Texas. The courthouse was designed by James Riely Gordon and built in 1891 by Martin, Byrne and Johnston. The jail was built earlier in 1881 by Fritz Schulte and designed by John Andrewartha and James Wahrenberger. Both buildings were added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) as a single listing on January 23, 1975. and designated a Texas State Antiquities Landmark on January 1, 1981 by the Texas Historical Commission (THC). Texas historical marker number 12627 erected in 2001 commemorates the courthouse's status as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, marker no. 18757 placed in 2017 does likewise for the jail. On January 16, 2001 both buildings were designated and recorded in the NRHP as contributing properties to the Fayette County Courthouse Square Historic District.

The San Antonio Downtown and River Walk Historic District is an amalgamation of residential and commercial sites. 197 contributing properties and 50 non-contributing properties were taken into consideration when evaluating the area for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and also for the Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks (RTHL). The more than a century of economic growth and business/tourist development beginning in the mid-19th century is reflected in the city's architecture.

References

  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. 1 2 Google (October 15, 2016). "Overview of Hudspeth County Courthouse" (Map). Google Maps . Google. Retrieved October 15, 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Sierra Blanca: Hudspeth County Courthouse". Texas Mountain Trail Region, Texas Historical Commission. 2016. Retrieved October 15, 2016.
  4. 1 2 "Details for Hudspeth County Courthouse; Historical Marker — Atlas Number 5229002591". Texas Historical Commission. 1962. Retrieved October 15, 2016.
  5. "Details for Fort Quitman, C.S.A.; Historical Marker — Atlas Number 5229002007". Texas Historical Commission. 1963. Retrieved October 15, 2016.
  6. Gammel, Hans Peter Mareus Neilsen, ed. (1917). "Chapter 25". S.B. No. 299-Creating Hudspeth County. pp. 39–43. Retrieved October 16, 2016.{{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  7. 1 2 "Details for Hudspeth County Courthouse; National Register Listing — Atlas Number 2075001993". Texas Historical Commission. May 21, 1975. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  8. "Details for Hudspeth County Courthouse; Courthouse — Atlas Number 4302002923". Texas Historical Commission. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  9. 1 2 "Details for Hudspeth County Courthouse; Courthouse — Atlas Number 4302000129". Texas Historical Commission. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  10. "Historic Marker Application: Hudspeth County Courthouse". Texas State Historical Survey Committee. August 10, 1962. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  11. "Details for Hudspeth County Courthouse; State Antiquities Landmark — Atlas Number 8200000373". Texas Historical Commission. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  12. "Round III Grant Recipients" (PDF). Texas Historical Commission. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  13. "Hudspeth County Courthouse – Sierra Blanca". Texas Historical Commission. March 15, 2016. Retrieved October 17, 2016.