Milam County Courthouse and Jail
Milam County Courthouse and Jail | |
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Location | Public Sq. and S. Fannin and E. 1st St., Cameron, Texas |
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Coordinates | 30°50′59″N 96°58′33″W / 30.84972°N 96.97583°WCoordinates: 30°50′59″N 96°58′33″W / 30.84972°N 96.97583°W |
Area | 3.5 acres (1.4 ha) |
Built | Courthouse: 1890-1892: Jail: 1895 |
Architect | Courthouse: Larmour and Watson, architect; Lee and Plummer, builders; Jail: Pauly Jail Building and Manufacturing Company |
Architectural style | Renaissance, Romanesque |
Governing body | Local |
NRHP Reference # | 77001460[1] |
Added to NRHP | December 20, 1977 |
The Milam County Courthouse and Jail are two separate historic county governmental buildings located diagonally opposite each other in Cameron, Milam County, Texas. The Milam County Courthouse, located at 100 South Fannin Avenue, was built in 1890-1892, while the Milam County Jail, now known as the Milam County Museum, was built in 1895. On December 20, 1977, they were added to the National Register of Historic Places as a single entry.[1][2][3]
Milam County Courthouse
The Milam County Courthouse, located at 100 South Fannin Avenue, was designed in the Renaissance Revival style of architecture by Austin architect A.O. Watson of the firm of Larmour and Watson. Its east and west facades mirror each other while its north and south facades mirror each other. It was built for $75,000 between 1890 and 1892 by Lee and Plummer, contractors. The cornerstone was dedicated on July 4, 1891 and the building was occupied in April 1892. Built of local stone, it originally consisted of only three stories, but in 1893 it was decided to add a clock tower which was finished in 1895. A statue of Justice was mounted atop the tower. In 1938, however, the clock tower and its statue were removed for safety reasons. In the early 2000s during a restoration of the courthouse, a new clock tower was erected along with a new statue of Justice. [4] [5] [6] [7] [2] [3] [8] [9] [10][11]
Milam County Jail
The Milam County Jail, located at East Main Street and South Fannin Avenue and now known as the Milam County Museum, was designed in the Romanesque Revival style of architecture and was built in 1895 by the Pauly Jail Building and Manufacturing Company of St. Louis, Missouri, which brought most building supplies from St. Louis. It is a 3-story building redbrick building with many mini-turrets. It is topped by a hanging tower, which was never used. The first floor was used for storage and a residence for the sheriff and his family, while the second and third floors housed prisoners. It was replaced in 1975 for a more modern jail and then became the local historical museum.[2] [3] [12] [13] [14][15]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2009-03-13.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Texas Gen Web: Loyd, Clarissa, History of Milam County accessed June 26, 2011
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Milam County Community Foundation: Aerial photo showing both buildings accessed June 26, 2011
- ↑ Robbins, Kathryn, History of the Court House of Milam County, Texas History Teachers' Bulletin, vol. 7-14, page 116-122 accessed June 26, 2011
- ↑ Milam County Historical Commission: Milam County Courthouse accessed June 26, 2011
- ↑ Texas Escapes: Milam County Courthouse accessed June 26, 2011
- ↑ Texas Escapes: Texas Courthouses listed by architect: A.O> Watson accessed June 26, 2011
- ↑ Texas State Historical Association: Texas Handbook Online: Arthur Osborne Watson accessed June 26, 2011
- ↑ Texas Courthouse Tour: Milam County accessed June 26, 2011
- ↑ Portal to Texas History: Milam County Courthouse cornerstone: side face accessed June 26, 2011
- ↑ Portal to Texas History: Milam County Courthouse cornerstone: main face accessed June 26, 2011
- ↑ Texas Escapes: Milam County Jail accessed June 26, 2011
- ↑ Texas Historical Markers: Milam County Jail of 1895 accessed June 26, 2011
- ↑ flickr Milam County Jail accessed June 26, 2011
- ↑ Milam County Museum accessed June 26, 2011
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