The 1938 Houston County Courthouse is the last of five courthouses to be located on the public square in Crockett, Texas, the county seat. Designed by architect Blum E. Hester, the courthouse was one of several new civic buildings constructed in the town under the New Deal's Public Works Administration. The building is an excellent example of late-1930's Art Moderne public architecture and, among the Texas courthouses of the period, one of the most straightforward, yet elegant, interpretations of the style. Since its construction, this structure has continued to serve the important role as the center of civic life in Houston County as well as the principle seat of county government.
This current courthouse was built at a time when Houston County was looking back on its first hundred years, having celebrated its centennial in 1936-1937. Under the administration of Crockett Mayor John Gordon Beasley, Sr., improvements included a new city hall, the David Crockett Memorial Building, and a new 50-acre city park. Unsurprisingly, Houston County commissioners were also interested in the building loans offered under the New Deal's National Recovery Act program and the Public Works Administration. And since the funding through this Act and completion of the construction in 1939, the courthouse and the public square have also been the site of numerous public events. Celebrations, such as the Fiddler's Festival, occurred yearly on the ground ending with street dances until midnight. Election results drew citizens to the square. All parade patterns circle the square. U.S. Bicentennial (1975-76) and Texas Sesquicentennial (1986-87) events were held on the courthouse steps and inside. And, the Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Merchants Beautification Committee use the steps of the building for their public events.
All of these things have made this beautiful courthouse eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) at the local level of significance under criterion A in the area of Politics/Government and as an excellent example of the Art Moderne style as applied to a public building under Criterion C for Architecture. It was added to the register on May 10, 2010. All of the information above, and much more, was found on the original documents that were submitted for listing consideration and can be viewed here:
catalog.archives.gov/id/40972618
Three bracketed photos were taken with a handheld Nikon D7200 and combined with Photomatix Pro to create this HDR image. Additional adjustments were made in Photoshop CS6.
"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." ~Jeremiah 29:11
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