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Denton County Courthouse Nomination FormForm No. 10-300 , \0-^i?.e^ UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM DATA SHEET FOR NFS USE ONLY m () 1377 RECEIVED DATE ENTERED PEC 2 e 1977 SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOWTO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES - COMPLETE APPLICABLE SECTIONS 4ISTpRIC Denton County Courthouse AND/OR COMMON [LOCATION STREETS NUMBER Public Square —NOT FOR PUBLICATION CITY, TOWN Denton VICINITY OF CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT STATE Texas CODE 048 COUNTY Denton CODE CLASSIFICATION CATEGORY —DISTRICT _XBUILDING(S) —STRUCTURE —SITE —OBJECT OWNERSHIP XpuBUC —PRIVATE —BOTH PUBLIC ACQUISITION _IN PROCESS —BEING CONSIDERED STATUS ^OCCUPIED —UNOCCUPIED —WORK IN PROGRESS ACCESSIBLE —YES: RESTRICTED J^YES: UNRESTRICTED _N0 PRESENT USE AGRICULTURE —MUSEUM —COMMERCIAL —EDUCATIONAL —ENTERTAINMENT ^GOVERNMENT —INDUSTRIAL —MILITARY —PARK —PRIVATE RESIDENCE —RELIGIOUS —SCIENTIFIC —TRANSPORTATION —OTHER DfOWNER OF PROPERTY NAME County of Denton STREET & NUMBER Public Square CITY, TOWN STATE Denton VICINITY OF Texas HLOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION COURTHOUSE, REGISTRY OF DEEDS.ETC. Offing of the County Clerk, Denton County Courthouse STREET & NUMBER Public Square CITY. TOWN STATE Denton Texas • REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS TITLE Historic Sites Inventory DATE 1970 —FEDERAL i?STATE —COUNTY —LOCAL DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS Texas Historical Commission CITY, TOWN STATE Austin Texas DESCRIPTION CONDITION —EXCELLENT ^GOOD —FAIR -DETERIORATED _RUINS .UNEXPOSED CHECK ONE —UNALTERED X-ALTERED CHECK ONE X—ORIGINAL SITE —MOVED DATE- DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (IF KNOWN) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE In the Denton County Courthouse in Denton, architect W.C. Dodson, a prominant figure in Central Texas architecture, modified the traditional crossaxial plan to allow the erection of a high central masonry tower. In the three story structure, the large central spaces including the courtroom were placed on either side of a single main corridor, allowing the supporting walls for the tower to pass through the center of the structure. A corridor running east-west provides the main circulation space. On either end is a large stair prefabricated from cast iron components. As is typical of Texas courthouses, offices of the county clerk, tax assessor, and tax collector are located on the ground floor while the large district courtroom and offices of the district clerk and judge's chambers are situated on the second floor. The third floor contains additional offices. Handsome materials were used on the interior. A panneled wainscot adds to the richness of the corridors and stairways. This panneling along with the doors and door openings are finished with oil, high- lighting the natural beauty of the wood. Centered in the public square atop an eminence, the Denton County Courthouse is comprised of a group of imposing masses. Each facade consists of a five part composition with a projecting pavilion emphasizing the entrance. Each entrance pavilion is enriched by a Roman-arched opening, two ranges of columns and a triangular pediment. At each corner is a series of balconies surmounted by a tower with an ogival roof. The dominant feature of the composition is the central octagonal tower rising above a broad platform with four ancillary domes, a compo- sition which was most certainly inspired by the dome of the French Cathedral, Florence Italy (1296). Two columns support the cornice over an observation platform in the tower base and a railing is formed with masonry units. Openings are spanned with stone lintels throughout, except at the entrances and the corner towers. The tower openings are spanned by Roman arches. Each entrance is emphasized by a Roman arch flanked by rectangular openings resulting in a composition of voids recalling the Palladian motif. Above the entrance columns bearing on pedestals support balconies with stone rails. Masonry of harmonizing hues produces an impressive facade. The walls were tan quarry-faced sandstone in ashlar pattern and the column capitals were carved in a basket weave motif in red stone from the Ganzer quarry. The voussoirs, water table, string courses, and lintels are of cut sandstone in light brown color. The column shafts were of pink Form No 10-300a (Rev 10-74) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY NOMINATION FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY RECEIVED JUN 6 1977 DATE ENTERED DEC 2 0 1977 CONTINUATION SHEET Denton County ITEM NUMBER 7 PAGE granite from Burnet. These columns, eighty in number, were fabricated in Fort Worth and were among the first to be finished with electric equipment. They were employed in the pedimented entry pavilions at each facade and in balcony features at each corner. Other decorative features contribute a subtle additional richness to the exterior. Stone carvings ornament the cornice which is surmounted by a balustrade, the posts of which are also enhanced by carved stone details. A bull's-eye window accents each pediment. SIGNIFICANCE PERIOD —PREHISTORIC — 1400-1499 — 1500-1599 — 1600-1699 — 1700-1799 Xl 800-1899 —1900- AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE ARCHEOLOGY-PREHISTORIC ^ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC AGRICULTURE Ji^RCHITECTURE ART —COMMERCE —COMMUNICATIONS —COMMUNITY PLANNING —CONSERVATION —ECONOMICS —EDUCATION —ENGINEERING —EXPLORATION/SETTLEMENT —INDUSTRY —INVENTION CHECK AND JUSTIFY BELOW —LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE —LAW —LITERATURE —MILITARY —MUSIC -PHILOSOPHY XpOLITICS/GOVERNMENT —RELIGION —SCIENCE —SCULPTURE —SOCIALynUMANITARIAN —THEATER —TRANSPORTATION —OTHER (SPECIFY) SPECIFIC DATES 1895-1896 BUILDER/ARCHITECT DodSOn STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE The,Denton County Courthouse possesses both architectural and historic significance. In Romanesque style, one of Texas' most prominant nineteenth-century architects created a building with extra- ordinary richness incorporating a combination of forms that is similar in concept to many other courthouses but unique in composition. Since the founding of Denton, the public square on which this temple of justice is located, has been the focus of political activities in the county and the present courthouse has been the center of local govern- ment for three-quarters of a century. Denton, county seat of Denton County,, was established in 185 7 and named, as was the county, in honor of John B. Denton, whose remains are buried on the courthouse lawn. On a hundred acres of land donated by Hiram Cisco, William Loving and William Woodruff, the fourth county seat of Denton County was established and lots were sold at public auction on January 10, 1857. The first courthouse was a frame building on.the. north side of the square. It burned in 1875 and was replaced by a brick structure designed and built by J.H. Brittqn in.1876-1877. .The building was located in the center of the town square. After twenty years of service this structure ceased to be satisfactory and public pressure mounted for the construction of a new courthQuse. On February 16, 1895, the Fort Worth Daily Gazette reported that, "several parties secreted on the upper stairway supplies of barrels, coal scuttles, bricks and the like, and at a given signal turned them all loose down the stairs creating a fearful state of mind of those familiar with the conditions of things." On July 3, 1895, the Commissioners' Court authorized the con- struction of a new building specifying "the Romanesque style of Architecture for the Denton County Courthouse as shown in the design prepared by Architect J.R. Gordon." Subsequent study of Gordon's plans resulted in his discharge for some reason not recorded. The commission was then awarded to architect W.C. Dodson who was ordered to prepare plans, specification and details, as well as to supervise construction by contractor Tom Lovell. Dodson was to receive a 5% commission based on the cost of the building which was $100,000.00. Completed in 1896, the courthouse continues to serve its original function. QMAIOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES Robinson, Willard B., Todd Webb, Texas Public Buildings of the Nineteenth Century, Autin, 19 74. Fort Worth Daily Gazette, February 16, 1895, p. 5; February 12, 1896, p.8. Denton County Commissioners' Court Minutes, Vols. A and C. IGEOGRAPHICAL DATA ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY 2 aCreS UTM REFERENCES A|1.4| |6|7^|0,3P| 13.617.614.8,5 1 BI . 1 1 1 . 1 . . I 1 . 1 . 1 . . 1 ZONE EASTING NORTHING ZONE EASTING NORTHING cl 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 . 1 . 1 j DI . I 1 1 . 1 , . t 1 1 1 . 1 1 1 1 VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION The courthouse is located on the public square at the intersection of farm to market highways, 2164 and 426. - • LIST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUNTY BOUNDARIES STATE CODE COUNTY CODE STATE CODE COUNTY CODE EBjFORM PREPARED BY NAME/TITLE Willard B. Robinson, Professor of Architecture S. Elizabeth Sasser-Research Assistant 12-15-76 ORGANIZATION Division of Architecture-Texas Tech University DATE 806-742-2464 STREET* NUMBER P.O. Box 4499 TELEPHONE CITY OR TOWN STATE Texas STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER CERTIFICATION THE EVALUATED SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS PROPERTY WITHIN THE STATE IS: NATIONAL STATE X LOCAL. As the designated State Historic Preservation Officer for the National H hereby nominate this property for inclusion in the National Register criteria and procedures set forth by the National Park Service. STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER SIGNATURE 966 (Public Law 89-665), I accortiing to the TITLE rpgxas State Historic Preservation Officer' DATE FOR NPS USE ONLY I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS PROPERTY IS IMCLUDED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER •1 DATE /1^ KEENER' OE THE MTJ DATE i t ^/C '1 ATTEST: yiiiiB niTiir imiTinMiUL wiisigTBF GPO 892. 453 Property Denton Countv CourthotiSR Texas forking Number .^^^^^^g,. TECHNICAL Phntn«; 3 Maps J CONTROL HISTORIAN ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN ARCHEOLQTGI OTHER HAER Inventory Review REVIEW UNIT CHIEF BRANCH CHIEF If /<» 7 7 KEEPER National Register Write-up Send-back Federal Register Entry ^ -"P'?^ Re-submit Entered 2 0 1977 INT:2I06-74 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service WASO No. 7 ENTRIES IN THE NATIOI^fiL REGISTER SThTE TEJ-rAS Date Entered Di^C 2 Q 1977 Location liihm Coimty Coyrtliousa and Jail Bluff Dalo Suapanalou Dridga Xteatoa Coxtaty Cotirtbottse Presidio C'?aaty (JourthouKcs lUlain Coaiity Bluff jCals Erath Comicy De&toa Xksn&cm County Presidio Cotsnty ro CM Also Notified Hon. Lloyd M. Bentsen Hoa. Jobn G. "owar Eon. W. R, Foa<5Q Hon. Oisar i&urlesoa lioa. Ilay Roberta lic-a. Richard C. Waite Regioaal Director» Southwest Rogioa State Historic Proearvaticm orflcer Ilr, Trutitt Latis^ar Esecutivci Director Te3iie U:*sCorical CoinmiMlon P.O. Bos: 12276, Cej'itol Statioa Austin, Xexas 76711 NATIONAL REGISTER DATA SHEET (l)NAME as it appears on federal register: Denton County Courthouse (2) OTHER NAMES'. (5) LOCATION street & number Public Square city / town Denton vicinity of state TX l^^fldate of entry I (^county code 2 0 1977 121 county Denton ;6)NPS REGION SW OWNER DPRIVATE DSTAIE •MUHICIPH _ EXISTING SURVEYS DHABS DHAER DNHL ^wtittiM HATtwH RE&imk miwm mn\ Ons.jw' CONDITION Gdeteriorat • excellent Druins Qgood • fair OUNTY •MUlTirU •FEDtRAKaeency iiame)_ FUNDED? DYES DHO |(S)cONGREi •24L1I • NATION S^wilitii ii«Tt»«M m$nm immm (§)ADNIINISTRATOR :. 5 -1 j.DSUBSTA> • unexposed Ounexcavated • unaltered •moved • reconstructed •unknown • excavated BLE - 9 ;SS • YHS - Rc-l r ictt-d •> YES -Unrestricted • No Access •Unknown MDAPTIVE USE ens C ARCHEOLOGY- (iistrif. - ' ^OR!CUl'URt-J ARCHUECIJ'tt 4 • COMMERCE - 6 • COMMUNICATION • CONSERVATION- • ECONOMICS-9 • ENGINEERING-11 • LANDSCAP; HRrH-! • POLIl ICS ' I'.CVI , • • LAW-16 •REHGION-22 • MILITARY- 18 • MUSIC- 19 • SOCIAL' ilUMANITARIAN r SOCIAL / CUtTURAL-30 • RECREATION -28 • SETTLEMENI-29 • URBAN PLANNING iOPERTY A HISTORIC Dl STR I CT'' • v- WHEN HISTORICALLY SIGNIflCANT; 1 ^dates of initial construction: mJici alterations: z^i, ETHNIC GROUP ^architectural style(s) ^master builder: ^interior decorator. ^artist: Idor/GOntrac ^NAME! PERSONAL: EVENTS: INSTITUTIONAL: ^NATIONAL REGISTER WRITE-UP 9rpvi«wer6 initials.