The Texas Historical Commission (THC) announced grant recipients for Round XIII of the nationally recognized Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program (THCPP) during its July 26 quarterly meeting in Austin. The THC awarded matching grants totaling $46,224,170 to nine counties to aid in preservation of their historic courthouses. Round XIII awards are listed below.
The THCPP Round XIII grants were made possible through a $45 million appropriation by the 88th Texas Legislature and an additional $3-4 million is anticipated in September from the Historic Infrastructure Sustainability Trust Fund. More than $2 million of the appropriated funds were distributed over the last year to counties with unforeseen conditions in the form of supplemental funding. The THC received applications from 31 counties requesting construction funding of nearly $150 million for projects totaling over $200 million.
The program has awarded over $400 million since the program’s inception and of the 145 counties participating in the program, 106 counties have received grant funding and 81 of those have received full restoration funding. There are still 25 applicants awaiting full restoration funding after receiving planning and emergency grants and another 37 program participants that have not yet received any funding at all, with a total outstanding need among participants of over $650 million.
Applicant | Grant Type | Award |
|---|---|---|
Comanche | Full Restoration | $9,071,939 |
Kimble | Full Restoration | $9,300,452 |
Willacy | Full Restoration | $8,743,671 |
Gonzales | Planning | $1,095,429 |
Refugio | Emergency | $4,000,000 |
Duval | Emergency | $816,365 |
Applicant | Grant Type | Award |
|---|---|---|
Donley | Emergency for a Previously Restored Courthouse | $2,339,820 |
Castro | Planning | $1,280,067 |
Castro County Courthouse
Designed by Townes & Funk out of Amarillo, the Art Moderne style courthouse was built by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) of cast stone with cast aluminum detailing. The utilitarian design and minimal ornamentation were characteristic of many WPA projects in Texas. While simple, the building includes beautiful ornamentation such as the cast ornamental aluminum spandrels and full height, fluted pilasters flanking the entrance.
The proposed planning project is to produce architectural drawings and specifications for future restoration of the Castro County Courthouse to its 1971 appearance, which includes a sympathetic, single-story addition to the back of the courthouse. The planning documents will include restoration of all interior finishes based upon an analysis by a conservator, rehabilitation of the existing historic windows, and replication of all missing courtroom furnishings, light fixtures, and hardware. The future construction project will include the replacement of the mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, and compliance with local building codes and the Texas Accessibility Standards.
Comanche County Courthouse
The Comanche County Courthouse was designed by renowned architect Wyatt Hedrick and constructed by the WPA of native limestone quarried about 6 miles west of Comanche. Carved limestone eagles rest above the four entrances to the building, and many other beautiful details throughout the exterior and interior. The three‐and‐a‐half‐story building was designed in the Art Moderne style with Art Deco details and a central dominant mass flanked by stepped blocks and terraced flat roofs on either side.
The Comanche County Courthouse has a high degree of integrity, so a substantial portion of the full restoration is repairs to and refinishing of the historic materials and building elements but requires the removal of non-original partitions and replication of some missing historic light fixtures to match extant historic fixtures, including light standards on the site. The construction project will include new mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, and compliance with local building codes and the Texas Accessibility Standards.
Donley County Courthouse
The Romanesque Revival style of the Donley County Courthouse places greater emphasis on the asymmetrical massing of the building and unique features expressed in the exterior details, such as the imposing tower and portico. And the southeast turret influences the layout of the interior stairway and windows. The design of the courthouse focuses on the pattern, texture, and color often seen in English Gothic revival buildings and associated with Victorian architectural styles, using red brick and limestone detailing.
The proposed grant work includes masonry repairs, including the restoration of deteriorating sandstone and the structural stabilization of brick veneer that is separating from the load bearing brick wall and is at risk of collapse. The county hired an architect and structural engineer who assessed the bowing exterior wall and they determined that the wall needs to be dismantled and reconstructed. Past repairs, including the installation of helical anchors, have failed to solve the problem and the southeast turret tower, its staircase, and landings to the third floor are all structurally compromised. The project also includes the installation of a fire suppression system.
Duval County Courthouse
The Duval County Courthouse, designed in the Classical Revival Style designed by renowned Texas courthouse architect Sanguinet & Staats, comprises a simple rectangular tripartite building of dark brick masonry. It is constructed of reddish-brown iron spot brick masonry veneer with a rusticated base and quoined corners all in brick, and has monumental entry steps at the north, east, and west elevations highlighted by a stone entablature above paired wood doors supported by brick pilasters. The building has wood paired or tripartite double-hung windows. A 1938 addition was designed by the acclaimed architecture firm Page & Southerland in a sympathetic style similar to the 1916 Courthouse with matching brick, steel windows and a small, raised center section containing jail cells.
A hazardous electrical panel and cloth covered distribution system will be replaced. At the roof, badly deteriorated coping stones will be replaced with replica coping stones and the roof membrane replaced and install new copper flashing. Rehabilitation of badly deteriorated windows will continue by repairing windows at the basement level.
Gonzales County Courthouse
Distinguished courthouse architect J. Riely Gordon designed the Gonzales County Courthouse in the Romanesque Revival style. Constructed of red pressed brick with a red clay tile roof and contrasting limestone details, the courthouse is a classic example of its style. The cross-axial plan has four corner portico entries. Four miniature domed cupolas surround the central pyramidal tower at each corner.
The proposed planning project is to produce architectural drawings and specifications for the restoration of the Gonzales County Courthouse to its 1896 appearance and partially restoring the site to 1911 which includes a sympathetic, single-story Attorney’s building to the east of the courthouse and the 1887 Old Jail. The project will incorporate new HVAC and Audio & Video systems, security improvements and comply with local building codes and Texas Accessibility Standards, and a major site intervention to mitigate and address the significant flood risk in consultation with FEMA.
Kimble County Courthouse
Designed by Henry T. Phelps, the Kimble County Courthouse demonstrates the Art Moderne style in its cast stone geometric detailing and engaged columns integrated into a rectangular massing with a traditional cross-axial layout. The building is constructed of buff brick with cast stone detailing and metal windows with multiple lites.
The proposed project includes the removal of a 1973 addition and the non-original aluminum entry doors will be replaced with replica doors and transoms to match the original. Exterior brick and cast stone masonry will be cleaned, repaired, and repointed. The interior work involves asbestos abatement, removal of non-historic finishes, and restoration of original finishes on walls, ceilings, and trim. The project will include the replacement of the mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, and compliance with local building codes and the Texas Accessibility Standards.
Refugio County Courthouse
As renowned San Antonio architect Atlee B. Ayres’ last courthouse, the Refugio County Courthouse benefited from his experience and is an excellent distillation of Ayres’ style, described as a southwestern Beaux Arts heavily influenced by Spanish Colonial Revival and Mission stye. Its balanced, symmetrical façade nods to the principles of Beaux Arts design, while its deep porches, the design of the original cast stone elements, and the Mission San Juan Capistrano parapet on the east façade all pay homage to Mission style. The abstracted naturalistic designs on the original cast stone cornices have also been linked to the Prairie School style pioneered by Frank Lloyd Wright, as an influential member of Ayres’ firm had previously worked in Wright’s Chicago office. In 1951, wings were constructed on either side of the original building using similar brick and fenestration, but some ornament was removed.
The courthouse complex will be restored to the 1951 period of significance and must be divided into two phases due to monetary constraints. The current scope (Phase 1) aims to replace all flat roofs, perform civil work to achieve positive site drainage and foundation repairs, rehabilitate the interior of the 1951 south Jail addition, restore the exterior of the 1951 south Jail addition, and restore 1917 courthouse windows to 1951 period of significance.
Willacy County Courthouse
The Willacy County Courthouse was designed by Henry T. Phelps, a prominent San Antonio architect whose reputation was widely established for both residential and public buildings. He designed twelve Texas courthouses in a range of styles, most in the Classical Revival style. The Willacy County Courthouse is understated without a prominent gable pediment at the main entry but the striking contrast between the crisp red brick and well-proportioned cream ornament delivers a powerful design.
Willacy County requests funding to fully restore the courthouse, including the window and door units and the removal of non-original intrusions inside the building. The project will address outdated systems and infrastructure, and repair deteriorated conditions, due primarily to moisture infiltration. The project will include replacement of the mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, and compliance with local building codes and the Texas Accessibility Standards.
Round XIII Full Restoration and Planning Applicant Score Sheet
Round XIII Emergency Score Sheet
Round XIII Emergency for Previously Restored Courthouses Score Sheet