As described by the U.S. Army Map Service (now DMA) in 1956 (even though it had already been monumented by a U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey in 1903 but not fully described as yet):
"THE MARK IS A SQUARE STONE TOWER LOCATED ON TOP AND IN THE CENTER OF THE COURTHOUSE."
While the coordinates are pretty much accurate (as compared to a nearby Vertical Control Mark located on the courthouse grounds as well, i.e. "AY1566"), a follow-up description of this seemingly unobtrusive "tower" might be of interest to future finders:
* For starters, this courthouse is actually the "Comal County Courthouse", not the "New Braunfels Courthouse". Read: it is used for the entire county of Comal Texas, not just local judicial proceedings.
* The courthouse, designed by J. Riely Gordon in the Romanesque Revival style, was built in 1898. It is listed in the US National Register of Historical Places and is also a Texas Historical Landmark.
* Its native limestone was quarried 10 miles north of here on some land owned by U.S. statesman Edward Mandell House (
visit link) -- a highly influential politician and President Woodrow Wilson's chief advisor on European politics and diplomacy during WWI.
* All of the spaces within the courthouse radiate from a central core containing an open stairwell that continues up into the stone tower atop the building (read: this particular benchmark!). This design was employed to facilitate natural ventilation by allowing hot air to rise and vent through the tower, giving the tower the role of not only unifying the courthouse massing but also serving a functional purpose.
Below are some additional facts, per the NGS database (with some editing for length): (
visit link)
AY1788 ***********************************************************************
AY1788 DESIGNATION - NEW BRAUNFELS COURTHOUSE TOWER
AY1788 PID - AY1788
AY1788 STATE/COUNTY- TX/COMAL
AY1788 COUNTRY - US
AY1788 USGS QUAD - NEW BRAUNFELS EAST (1994)
AY1788
AY1788 *CURRENT SURVEY CONTROL
AY1788 ______________________________________________________________________
AY1788* NAD 83(1993) POSITION- 29 42 12.58377(N) 098 07 29.74881(W) ADJUSTED
AY1788_MARKER: 55 = TOWER
AY1788_SATELLITE: THE SITE LOCATION WAS REPORTED AS SUITABLE FOR
AY1788+SATELLITE: SATELLITE OBSERVATIONS - May 17, 2003
AY1788
AY1788 HISTORY - Date Condition Report By
AY1788 HISTORY - 1903 FIRST OBSERVED CGS
AY1788 HISTORY - 1935 GOOD CGS
AY1788 HISTORY - 1956 GOOD AMS
AY1788 HISTORY - 1989 GOOD USPSQD
AY1788 HISTORY - 1989 GOOD USPSQD
AY1788 HISTORY - 19930808 GOOD USPSQD
AY1788 HISTORY - 19990925 GOOD USPSQD
AY1788 HISTORY - 20030517 GOOD USPSQD