The Caldwell County Courthouse is a historic courthouse located in Lockhart, Texas. The courthouse was built in 1894 to replace the existing courthouse, which was too small for the growing county.
The courthouse was built in the Second Empire architectural style, with the design often attributed to Alfred Giles; however, recent research indicates the building was designed by Henry E.M. Guidon, who eventually became partners with Giles. The courthouse is nearly identical to the courthouse in Goliad County, Texas, as it was built from the same Guidon plans.
The exterior of the three-story courthouse is built with cream-colored limestone and red sandstone. The central clock tower houses a four-faced Seth Thomas Clock Company clock and a 900-pound bell. The mansard roof of the courthouse is characteristic of Second Empire design.
The courthouse was designated a Texas Historic Landmark in 1976 and was listed in 1978 on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) as a contributing property of the Caldwell County Courthouse Historic District. The exterior has been featured in the films What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993) and Waiting for Guffman (1996).
Lockhart is located 30 miles (48 km) south of Austin. The estimated population of Lockhart in 2019 was 14,133. Known as the Barbecue Capital of Texas, Lockhart also has played host to many film sets.
Tags: Lockhart Caldwell County Texas TX Architecture Public Building Courthouse Caldwell County Courthouse Architect Henry E.M. Guidon Architectural Style Second Empire Limestone Sandstone Seth Thomas Clock Company Clock Mansard Roof Caldwell County Courthouse Historic District National Register of Historic Places NHRP Ref# 78002902 Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
A view of the front facade of the Caldwell County Courthouse in Lockhart, TX. Built in 1894, the courthouse was designed by Henry E.M. Guidon in the Second Empire architectural style. The exterior of the three-story structure is built with cream-colored limestone and red sandstone. The central clock tower houses a four-faced Seth Thomas Clock Company clock and a 900-pound bell. The mansard roof of the courthouse is characteristic of Second Empire design.
In 1978, the courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) as a contributing property of the Caldwell County Courthouse Historic District.
Tags: Lockhart Texas TX Historic Courthouse Caldwell County Caldwell County Courthouse Architect Henry E.M. Guidon Architectural Style Second Empire Limestone Sandstone Seth Thomas Clock Company Clock Mansard Roof Caldwell County Courthouse Historic District National Register of Historic Places NHRP Ref# 78002902
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On the northwest corner of the Caldwell County Courthouse sits this seven-foot-tall, green-gray granite monument placed by the United Daughters of the Confederacy in 1923. During the summer of 2020, following the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis and amid numerous protests that ensued, Caldwell County citizens stepped forward and proposed removing the monument.
Before summer's end, the Caldwell County Commissioners accepted recommendations from a citizens panel to relocate the monument to the old Caldwell County Jail (shown previously in this short series), now repurposed as a museum. Then earlier this year, the Texas Historical Commission authorized the issuance of a permit allowing for the removal and relocation of the Confederate monument. The relocation of the monument to the old county jail/museum will occur later this year.
Lockhart is the seat of Caldwell County, and is located 30 miles (48 km) south of Austin. The estimated population of Lockhart in 2019 was 14,133. Known as the Barbecue Capital of Texas, Lockhart also has played host to many film sets. The 1996 Christopher Guest comedy film Waiting for Guffman and the 1993 drama What's Eating Gilbert Grape were filmed partially in Lockhart, including the historic courthouse and the town square.
Tags: Lockhart Caldwell County County Seat Texas TX Architecture Public Building Courthouse Square Removal Confederate Civil War Monument United Daughters of the Confederacy Protests George Floyd BLM Texas Historical Marker Caldwell County Courthouse National Register of Historic Places NRHP Ref# 78002902 Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
Explore #21 on January 15, 2022
A view of the beautiful Caldwell County Courthouse as seen looking to the southeast from the northwest corner of the Courthouse Square (intersection of E. San Antonio and S. Main St.) The courthouse is the anchor of the Caldwell County Courthouse Square Historic District listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.
Built in the Second Empire style much favored for public buildings, the Caldwell County Courthouse of 1893 was designed by San Antonio architect Alfred Giles and built by the firm of Martin, Brynes and Johnston.
Three stories in height the structure is characterized by dominant Mansard roof and a high central tower with a four-way clock and a 900-pound bell. The elevations reflect a broken massing in which projecting central pavilions define entrances at all four sides. On the north (shown here) and south facades, two secondary towers flank the arches at the main entrance. At the east and west entries porticos were added to the design shortly after the contract was awarded. The commissioners' court minutes from May 15, 1883 note the added cost of$600. Recessed bays flank the entrances and terminate in projecting pavilions at each corner.
The walls were of rusticated masonry and cream-colored stone. Openings in each floor were spanned by round, flat or segmental arches. All quoins, arches and sills were specified in the contract to be of "red muldoon stone." All the walls were accented by contrasting stringcourset. They were further enhanced by cut stone pilasters and a strongly articulated cornice at the center and corner pavilions. The roof was to be finished in "unfading black slate."
The courthouse remains in use today with only minor alterations of the original architecture. There have been no major exterior changes; only the roof has been repaired as necessary. Interior modifications have been somewhat more extensive. Air-conditioning was added and, in 1969, a small elevator was installed.
The monument you see on the corner of the courthouse grounds has generate much controversy in recent years. In 1861, Texas seceded from the Union and joined and fought for the Confederacy in the U.S. Civil War. While confederate monuments and memorials can still easily be found on public grounds throughout the south, they are increasingly being removed.
The seven-foot-tall, green-gray granite monument shown in this photo was placed by the United Daughters of the Confederacy in 1923. During the summer of 2020, following the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis and amid numerous protests that ensued, Caldwell County citizens stepped forward and proposed removing the monument.
That same year the Caldwell County Commissioners accepted recommendations from a citizens panel to relocate the monument to the old Caldwell County Jail - shown previously in this series - that has been repurposed as a museum. Area residents raised about $29,600 to fund removal by a private contractor. The relocation of the monument to the old county jail/museum took place in December 2021, about one month after I took this photograph.
Lockhart, a community of 14,811 at the 2020 census, is the seat of Caldwell County and is located just 30 miles south of the state capital in downtown Austin. Lockhart's square and downtown is filled with late 19th and early 20th century buildings, nearly all contributing properties to the historic district. The city's turn-of-the-century appearance has attracted the attention of film makers. Over 50 films for the theater and TV have been shot in whole or in part in Lockhart, including the 1996 Christopher Guest comedy film Waiting for Guffman and the 1993 drama What's Eating
Tags: Lockhart Seat Caldwell County South Central Texas TX South Side Courthouse Square Street View Intersection 100 Block E. San Antonio Street 100 Block S. Main Street Public Building Courthouse Caldwell County Courthouse Contributing Property Anchor Architecture Architectural Style Second Empire Architect Alfred Giles US Civil War Monument Removal United Daughters of the Confederacy Protests George Floyd BLM Texas Historical Marker Caldwell County Courthouse Historic District National Register of Historic Places NRHP Reference # 78002902 Canon EOS 5D Mark IV Explored In Explore Explore
Explore #25 on December 30, 2021
A view of the north side of the courthouse square in Lockhart, a community of 14,379 in south central Texas located 30 miles south of Austin, the capital city of Texas. Lockhart is the seat of Caldwell County and, in 1999, was proclaimed the "Barbecue Capital of Texas" by the Texas state legislature.
Located in the center of this block is the Southwest Museum of Clocks & Watches, where rare timepieces spanning over three centuries can be viewed and admired. The only other major museums in the United States devoted to clocks and watches are in Columbia, PA, and Bristol, CT.
The attractive downtown filled with late 19th and early 20th century buildings has attracted the attention of film makers. Over 50 films for the theater and TV have been shot in whole or in part in Lockhart, including the 1996 Christopher Guest comedy film Waiting for Guffman and the 1993 drama What's Eating Gilbert Grape.
Tags: Lockhart Seat Caldwell County South Central Texas TX Street View Barbecue BBQ Barbecue Capital of Texas 100 Block 200 Block E. San Antonio Street North Side Courthouse Square Architecture Late 19th Early 20th Century Commercial Buildings Canon EOS 5D Mark IV Explore In Explore Explored