McCulloch County Courthouse explained

McCulloch County Courthouse
Coordinates:31.1517°N -99.3347°W
Map Label:McCulloch County Courthouse
Locmap Relief:yes
Architect:Martin & Moodie
Added:December 16, 1977
Refnum:77001515
Designated Other1:TSAL
Designated Other1 Date:May 28, 1981
Designated Other1 Number:469
Designated Other1 Num Position:bottom
Designated Other2:RTHL
Designated Other2 Date:1967
Designated Other2 Number:3286
Designated Other2 Num Position:bottom

The McCulloch County Courthouse is located in Brady, McCulloch County, in the U.S. state of Texas. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places listings in McCulloch County, Texas in 1977, and became a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1967.[1]

History

This is the second courthouse to serve McCulloch County. The first county building was erected in 1879. The current courthouse was completed in 1900, and the datestone was laid by the Brady Lodge of the Freemasons on September 29, 1899. Martin & Moodie of Comanche are listed as the builders, with no separate name for an architect.[2] When the decision was made in 1899 to erect a new courthouse, Martin & Moodie submitted their proposal and were awarded the contract.[3] The new three-story sandstone courthouse was in the Richardson Romanesque style, and bears some semblance to the style of architect James Riely Gordon.[4] While the clock tower has areas designed for a clock on each of the four sides, no clock is installed. The courthouse underwent a renovation in 2009, part of which gave the structure a red roof.[2] In both 1936 and 1938, Brady Creek (San Saba River) overflowed its banks and caused flooding in and around the courthouse.[5]

Heart of Texas monument

In 1963, the Texas Historical Commission designated the geographical center of Texas as being located northwest of Brady.[6] On the courthouse grounds is a Heart of Texas granite marker designed by Earl V. Finlay. The actual carving and inscription were done in 1958 by Brady native son Gary Bryson. Funding for the 7inchesft6inchesin (ftin) monument was provided by the Brady Chamber of Commerce and the McCulloch County Commissioners' Court.[7]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: RTHL McCulloch County Courthouse. Texas Historical Commission. 22 September 2011.
  2. Web site: TE McCullough courthouse. Texas Escapes. Blueprints For Travel, LLC.. 22 September 2011.
  3. Web site: NRHP McCullouch County Courthouse. Texas Historical Commission. 22 September 2011.
  4. Book: Henry, Jay C. Architecture in Texas, 1895–1945. 1993. University of Texas Press. 978-0-292-73072-4. 17–19.
  5. Book: Burnett, Jonathan. Flash Floods in Texas. 2008. TAMU Press. 978-1-58544-590-5. 123.
  6. Web site: THC Geographic Center of Texas. Texas Historical Commission. 22 September 2011.
  7. Book: Little, Carol Morris. A Comprehensive Guide to Outdoor Sculpture in Texas. 1996. University of Texas Press. 978-0-292-76036-3. 100.