Lampasas County Texas Courthouse
A Brief History and Photos
The Lampasas County Courthouse was constructed in 1883 and is the work of noted Waco architect W. C. Dodson. From the escapades of the Horrell brothers outlaw gang to the commercial success of the mineral springs and bathhouses after the arrival of the railroad line from Galveston in 1882—Lampasas Texas has a rich and diverse history. Please read this short story about the county courthouse and local history. Enjoy the images below. Click these images to see larger versions.
| County | Lampasas |
| County Seat | Lampasas |
| County Population (2000) | 17,762 |
| County Courthouse | |
| Constructed | 1883 |
| Architect | W. C. Dodson |
| Designation | National Register Listing - 1971 Texas Historic Landmark - 1965 |
County History
Before Lampasas County was created, John Burleson, an early settler, deeded land to his daughters, Elizabeth Scott and Martha Moore. After it became popular belief that the spring water in Lampasas possessed healing powers, Elizabeth laid out lots for a town and offered them for sale. Lots were priced between $5.00 and $12.50. The notoriety of the Lampasas Springs led to rapid growth, and Lampasas earned the title "Saratoga of the South."
Lampasas County, named for the Lampasas River, was created from parts of Travis and Bell counties on February 1, 1856, and organized March 10 with Lampasas, as the county seat.
The Town of Lampasas
Disasters plagued Lampasas in the early days. In December of 1871 a fire destroyed the county courthouse. A new courthouse was built only to be swept away by a flood in 1873. Major change came to Lampasas in 1882. In that year a passenger train linked Lampasas to the coastal city of Galveston. The arrival of the railroad in Lampasas caused major growth. The mineral springs were commercialized and people came to the "Saratoga of the South" for leisure and healing. The first private bathhouse was built by Elizabeth and George Scott and later sold to the Hanna family. Sometime after 1882 the Hancock Springs Bathhouse and the Grand Park Hotel were constructed. Remnants of the old bathhouse can still be seen today near the pool at Hancock Park.
The Courthouse
The Lampasas County Courthouse was constructed in 1883 from plans provided by Waco architect W. C. Dodson. The Lampasas courthouse is similar in many ways to other Dodson-designed courthouses in Hill, Hood, and Parker counties. The Lampasas County Courthouse was the first of the four to be built. The county courthouse in Lampasas is smaller, both in overall size and height of the central tower, compared to these other buildings. The scale of this building, however, detracts from its grandness in no way.
The courthouse is constructed of native limestone. Two opposing faces of the building feature five-bay composition and the remaining two faces three-bay composition. The vertical composition of the exterior of the courthouse gives the strong impression of a two-story structure. In fact, the interior features three floors with long windows spanning and lighting the second and third stories. The National Register narrative describes the building as having a mansard roof. The mansard roof treatment of this courthouse is certainly of very limited height and is topped by a hip roof. This building has a roof quite different from the Hill, Hood, and Parker County courthouses.
The interior of the Lampasas County Courthouse shares many features with the Parker County Courthouse. The first floor of the courthouse is roughly divided into quarters by intersecting halls lined with doorways entering into county offices. The staircases are made of wood. Unlike Parker county though, the Lampasas courthouse has a narrow staircase at one end of the building. At the other end a double staircase is nearly identical to one in the Parker County Courthouse. The second floor contains the old District Courtroom. The ceiling of this courtroom must be over twenty feet high. The walls and ceiling are covered with pressed tin and painted green with red and gold accents. There's no balcony in the District Courtroom, unlike Parker County. There is however a panel of windows on a third-story landing where people can stand and look into the courtroom.
In a jury deliberation room on the third floor, the Seth Thomas movement for the tower clock is on display. Prior to the restoration of the courthouse in 2004, this mechanical device resided on the first floor. The clock tower itself is modest but elegant.
The courthouse lawn is spacious and fenced. The distance to the surrounding buildings on the town square is considerable. Notably missing are signs, curbs, and parking meters. The uncrowded and uncluttered town square may be a relic of times gone by—when the distinction between parking lot and road wasn't quite so clear, and horses were the more common means of transportation.
More information:The Lampasas County Chamber of Commerce - http://www.lampasaschamber.org/
Bibliographic note:
Much can be learned about early Lampasas history by simply reading the Texas Historical Commission signs sprinkled all around town. More information was extracted from the Texas Historical Commission's Sites Atlas. (http://atlas.thc.state.tx.us/) Other details came from the Lampasas County Chamber of Commerce website. (http://www.lampasaschamber.org/)
Copyright © 2006 by Sam Fenstermacher
All rights reserved.