AUSTIN, Texas — For more than a quarter century Taylor County, the preservation community of Abilene, and the Texas Historical Commission (THC) have worked and planned to save an irreplaceable part of Texas history.

These efforts came to a triumphant close April 16 as former Taylor County Judge Downing Bolls, long a champion of the project, and Red Coats from the Abilene County Chamber of Commerce cut the ribbon on its fully restored 1915 courthouse before hundreds of elected officials, preservation advocates, and community members.

The restoration project was funded with a nearly $6 million construction grant from the THC's Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program (THCPP) along with more than $15 million in county and other funds.

"We're not just preserving a building — we are preserving our story," said Rep. Stan Lambert (House District 71) "This is a great example of good government at work: state and local leaders working together to reinvest in our communities."

The ceremony featured remarks from Taylor County Judge Phil Crowley, former County Judge Downing A. Bolls, Rep. Stan Lambert (House District 71), THC Vice Chair Garrett Donnelly, and former THC Commissioner Tom Perini.

"Taylor County's courthouse is a historic preservation dream," Donnelly said. "For 25 years, the county worked with tenacity and dedication, emulating that same hard work that built the courthouse to begin with. The community should be proud."

A man in a suit speaks at a wooden podium on the stone steps of a brick building. Behind him, green double doors are flanked by an American flag and a Texas flag, with another man in a cowboy hat standing nearby. To the left, a man in a dark suit sits in a chair on the steps, looking down at notes.
L to R - Hon. Phil Crowley, Taylor County Judge; Taylor County Precinct 3 Commissioner Brad Burchard; and THC Vice Chair Garrett Donnelly. 

Designed by Waco architect George Burnett, the three-story Classical Revival structure features hand-carved limestone pilasters and Ionic capitals on the main east façade, and ornate cast plaster cornices and decorative beams on the interior.

Beginning in the 1950s, the original two-story district courtroom was subdivided for office space. The building remained functional, but lost its grandeur.

The restoration, designed by Austin-based preservation firm Architexas and constructed by Joe R. Jones Construction Inc., systematically reversed those alterations. The district courtroom was restored, including the reconstruction of the judge's bench and dividing rail, positioned to align with the original mosaic tile floor pattern revealed during selective demolition.

A bright, grand interior hall features a polished white marble floor with a decorative star inlay. Tall, dark, marbled columns line the left side of the room, while a wide white marble staircase with dark wooden railings ascends to the right. The walls are painted a warm yellow-orange, accented by ornate ceiling molding and hanging pendant lights, creating a classic, elegant atmosphere.
Interior of 1915 Talyor County Courthouse.

Rare Scagliola columns were restored in the main public corridors, providing a unique faux marble appearance using fine plaster techniques. Terrazzo and mosaic tile floors underwent repairs and cast ornamental metal railings restored, and refinished.

These restorations do not simply restore a courthouse to its lost beauty. The Taylor County project addressed a century of deferred infrastructure needs, replacing mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and technology systems; improving ADA compliance; restoring exterior masonry and limestone elements; and replacing the membrane roof.

Taylor County's restoration journey began with its first master plan submission to the THC in 2001. A grant to update that plan was awarded in January 2019; the construction grant followed in June 2020. Selective demolition began in April 2021, with Phase 2 construction awarded in June 2022.

"A lot of this couldn't have happened without some good friends — and without the Texas Historical Commission," said Precinct 4 Commissioner Chuck Statler, who helped shepherd the project across multiple terms. "This is a great day not only for Taylor County, but for Abilene, and for each of us."

The Texas Historical Commission's Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program has provided funding for the full restoration of more than 80 historic county courthouses across Texas since 1999. The program prioritizes authentic restoration while updating infrastructure for 21st-century functionality.

For more information about this project, visit thc.texas.gov/courthouses.

###

About the Texas Historical Commission

The Texas Historical Commission is the state's official historic preservation agency. It preserves, operates, and manages 42 state historic sites, the Texas Heritage Trails Program, Texas Main Street Program, Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program, and many more heritage tourism and historic preservation initiatives across the state. The Texas Historical Commission's mission is to protect and preserve the state’s historic and prehistoric resources for the use, education, enjoyment, and economic benefit of present and future generations. For more information, visit thc.texas.gov..