Fannin County Courthouse (Texas)

Fannin County Courthouse
Fannin County Courthouse in 2010
General information
Architectural style 1889 Second Empire; 1965 Modern Movement, Art Deco
Town or city Bonham, Texas
Country United States
Coordinates 33°34′39″N 96°10′43″W / 33.5776°N 96.1787°W / 33.5776; -96.1787Coordinates: 33°34′39″N 96°10′43″W / 33.5776°N 96.1787°W / 33.5776; -96.1787
Construction started 1888
Completed 1889, lost tower 1929 fire; massive renovation 1969
Design and construction
Architect 1888 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

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]

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.

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


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