Fannin County Courthouse (Texas)

The Fannin County Courthouse is a historic courthouse building located in Bonham, Fannin County, Texas. Built in 1888-1889 of rough-cut local limestone from Gober by Scottish-born stonemasons Kane and Cormack, it was designed in the Second Empire style of architecture by Waco-based architect Wesley Clark Dodson (1829–1914) of the firm Dodson and Dudley. As built it was similar in appearance to the Hood County Courthouse Dodson designed shortly after it.[1] Its central clock tower and elaborate mansard roof were destroyed by fire on New Year's Eve, December 31, 1929, and were replaced by a flat roof.[2] In 1965 the courthouse was modernized, the remaining roof pediments were removed and the exterior was covered with a smooth surface of what is called Lueders stone or Lueders limestone, so that it now appears to be a Moderne or rather plain Art Deco building.[3] [4] [5]

Fannin County Courthouse
Fannin County Courthouse in 2010
General information
Architectural style1889 Second Empire; 1965 Modern Movement, Art Deco
Town or cityBonham, Texas
CountryUnited States
Coordinates33.5776°N 96.1787°W / 33.5776; -96.1787
Construction started1888
Completed1889, lost tower 1929 fire; massive renovation 1969
Design and construction
Architect1888 Wesley Clark Dodson (1829-1914) of Dodson & Dudley of Waco, TX; 1965, unknown
Aerial view of Fannin County Courthouse
For comparison Hood County Courthouse in 2008

In 2008 the county received a state historical renovation grant and discussion ensued about whether to restore the building to its earlier grandeur.[6]

On November 8, 2016, a courthouse restoration bond proposal was passed by Fannin County voters. This $12.5 million bond, in conjunction with a matching $5 million grant from the Texas Historical Commission, will restore the courthouse to its original 1888 design.

See also

References
  1. Fannin County GenWeb: Picture of pre-1929 courthouse with tower
  2. Pictures during and right after 1929 fire and later
  3. Texts of all Fannin County historical markers including the one for the courthouse which misspells Lueders
  4. Texas Escapes page on Fannin County Courthouse
  5. Familytree 101 Fannin County
  6. "KXIL TV story". Archived from the original on 2011-07-13. Retrieved 2011-02-28.

Media related to Fannin County Courthouse at Wikimedia Commons


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