82R31240 BPG-D
By: Schwertner H.R. No. 2527
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, November 7, 2011, marks the 100th anniversary of the
dedication of the Williamson County Courthouse; and
WHEREAS, County residents voted in 1909 to approve a $100,000
bond issue for the construction of a new courthouse building;
designed by C. H. Page and Brother, an Austin architectural firm,
the courthouse was built by contractor William C. Whitney in the
Beaux-Arts style and features polished marble wainscoting
throughout; the handsome clock faces located in the dome were
manufactured by the E. Howard Clock Company in Boston; and
WHEREAS, On October 6, 1910, the Masons presided over an
elaborate cornerstone-laying ceremony, and the building was
dedicated by the county bar association on November 7, 1911; it
later underwent three major renovations and many modifications,
including the unfortunate demolition of key architectural features
in 1966; after the turn of the 21st century, preservation-minded
citizens and officials began working with the Texas Historical
Commission to return the courthouse to its original splendor,
removing a brick parapet and replacing the original terra cotta
triangular pediments and balustrades; moreover, the famous 26th
District Courtroom, with its two-story ceiling and balcony, now
looks as it did when Williamson County district attorney Dan Moody
successfully tried members of the Ku Klux Klan in 1924; the building
won the Best Restoration award from the Texas Downtown Association
President's Award Program in 2008; and
WHEREAS, The Williamson County Courthouse stands as a
testament to the pride area citizens take in their community and its
unique social and cultural heritage; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature hereby commemorate the centennial of the Williamson
County Courthouse and commend all those who have contributed to the
preservation of this historic public building; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for display at the Williamson County Courthouse as an
expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.