AX2590 - GONZALES COUNTY CTHSE SPIRE - Gonzales, TX
Posted by: Groundspeak Premium Member Raven
N 29° 30.060 W 097° 27.134
14R E 650029 N 3264492
The spire at the top of the dome of the 1896 Gonzales County Courthouse (in Gonzales, TX) is a NGS benchmark ("AX2590").
Waymark Code: WMWWPN
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 10/23/2017
Published By:Groundspeak Premium Member Ernmark
Views: 3

As described by the CGS in 1943:

"THIS INTERSECTION STATION IS THE SPIRE ON THE DOME OF THE CLOCK TOWER OF THE GONZALES COUNTY COURTHOUSE, LOCATED IN THE CENTER OF TOWER. IT IS A RED BRICK BUILDING WITH A DOME AND CLOCK TOWER ON THE TOP. POINT OBSERVED UPON, THE SPIRE ON THE TOP OF THE DOME."

Its description is still correct, and quite easy to spot once in the area... although please note that the actual station (the spire on top of the dome) is listed under "church spire" in the NGS database, while it's actually just a regular [courthouse] spire (read: not on top of a church).

As a quick background info: the Gonzales County Courthouse was built in 1896 in Romanesque Revival style, complete with several arches, columns, balconies, and turrets... It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

The NGS' currently posted coordinates ("N 29 30 03.62929 W 097 27 08.03278", or "N 29° 30.060 W 097° 27.134") were in line with my observations while on site.

The station was recovered in good condition.

---

Below are some basic additional facts, per the NGS database (with some editing for length): (visit link)

AX2590 ***********************************************************************
AX2590 DESIGNATION - GONZALES COUNTY CTHSE SPIRE
AX2590 PID - AX2590
AX2590 STATE/COUNTY- TX/GONZALES
AX2590 COUNTRY - US
AX2590 USGS QUAD - GONZALES NORTH (1981)
AX2590
AX2590 *CURRENT SURVEY CONTROL
AX2590 ______________________________________________________________________
AX2590* NAD 83(1993) POSITION- 29 30 03.62929(N) 097 27 08.03278(W) ADJUSTED
AX2590 ______________________________________________________________________
AX2590
AX2590_MARKER: 90 = CHURCH SPIRE
AX2590_SATELLITE: THE SITE LOCATION WAS REPORTED AS SUITABLE FOR
AX2590+SATELLITE: SATELLITE OBSERVATIONS - November 28, 2009
AX2590
AX2590 HISTORY - Date Condition Report By
AX2590 HISTORY - 1943 FIRST OBSERVED CGS
AX2590 HISTORY - 20031001 GOOD USPSQD
AX2590 HISTORY - 20050120 GOOD USPSQD
AX2590 HISTORY - 20091128 GOOD GEOCAC
Condition: Mark found in good condition

Designation: GONZALES COUNTY CTHSE SPIRE

Benchmark Agency: U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey

Monumentation type: Church Spire

County: Gonzales County

USGS 7.5' Topographic Quadrangle Name (optional): Gonzales North

Find type: Coordinates and/or to-reach information from the NGS database (or Geocaching's copy of it) were used

Web address of this benchmark's datasheet (optional): [Web Link]

NGS PID: AX2590

Local database's URL (optional): [Web Link]

Benchmark Agency (if other): Not listed

Monumentation type (if other): Not listed

Special category (optional): Not listed

Special Category (if other): Not listed

Visit Instructions:
  1. A closeup photo of the mark taken by you is required.
  2. A 'distant' photo including the mark in the view is highly recommended. Include the compass direction you faced when you took the picture.
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