Old Gillespie County Courthouse, Fredericksburg, Texas
Posted by: 
linkys
N 30° 16.527 W 098° 52.417
14R E 512155 N 3349314
The second Gillespie County Courthouse, erected in 1881 which currently houses the County Library.
Waymark Code: WM37J2
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 02/23/2008
Views: 84
When the Gillespie County Commissioners decided a new Courthouse was needed to replace the original building, they offered a $50 prize for the best design. The contest resulting in the submittal of two designs, with the one submitted by Alfred Giles a leading Texas architect of the day being chosen the winner.
The result was a building, completed in 1882, which used locally occurring stone incorporated into a balanced design where each of the opposed opposite sides of the building are alike.
The structure served as the Gillespie County Courthouse until August 16, 1939, when a new Courthouse was dedicated. Thereafter the old courthouse building was used for various purposes eventually falling into disrepair, which resulted in its being condemned in 1963. It received a second chance at life in November 1965 when Mr. & Mrs. Eugene McDermott of Dallas visited Fredericksburg and gave the old building an opportunity to return to a place of glory in the community as a library.
The McDermott's became the patrons of the original 1967 restoration, and then in 1984 after the death of Mr. McDermott, Mrs. McDermott matched local contributions for a second renovation, which included a much needed expansion, turning meeting rooms into rooms where books were shelved. During both renovations the McDermott's desire was that as many of the original features of the building as possible be preserved.
Among the interesting features inside the building are a split staircase.
A hummingbird design on the doorknobs
And a large wall hanging located in the second floor hall, called "Our Town", which depicts in stitchery some of the outstanding and unique features of Fredericksburg.
