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Caldwell
County CourthouseCounty
Seat - Lockhart, Texas
Date of completion - 1894
Architect - Henry E. M. Guidon
Architectural Firm: Giles and Guidon
Contractor:
Martin, Byrne & Johnston
Style - Second Empire
Material -
Muldoon blue sandstone, with Pecos red sandstone
trim
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The
Caldwell County Courthouse c. 1905
Courtesy The Texas Historic Commission | |
| The
Texas Historical Commission description states: "Most attribute its design to
San Antonio architect Alfred Giles. However, it is more likely that Henri E. M.
Guindon [sic] is the architect." |
| | Metal
capitals on the couthouse's east entrance. |
| Another entry on
the THC website states: "plans were sold to Caldwell County during [a] brief period
when Guidon did not work with Giles, same plans subsequently sold to Goliad shortly
after Guidon rejoined Giles practice, Giles later ads claimed both Caldwell and
Goliad as his." |
| | The
three story building is constructed mainly from "Muldoon
Blue" sandstone quarried in Fayette County. The popular stone was used
in many other courthouses and churches across Texas. |
Until
its recent total restoration the building only went through minor repairs and
improvements. In 1969 the building received air conditioning and had an elevator
installed. In 1977 the district courtroom was converted to office space, with
the then-popular plastic paneling and a dropped ceiling. The following year downspouts
were replaced, windows and doors were repaired and the stonework was repointed.
For many years
the color scheme was "cream and green." The nearby H.E.B. grocery matched
the colors at the request of Lockhart's City Council. The original colors were
brought back during the recent restoration. |
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