Kimble County Courthouse - Junction, TX
N 30° 29.329 W 099° 45.956
14R E 426491 N 3373201
The 1929 Art Deco-style Kimble County Courthouse was a landmark on the OST Auto Route through Junction.
Waymark Code: WMTV08
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 01/08/2017
Views: 2
Like almost all the small Texas towns along the Old Spanish Trail, that part of the OST as it passes through Junction is named "Main Street."
As of 1969, the entire route of the former OST through Junction (including Main Street) was redesignated State Loop 481 to serve as a business route for the reroute of the US 290 north of town (preparing for the day to come where the US 290 would become the I-10).
Wikipedia proves that Texas SL 481 was formerly co-signed as US 83 and US 290. The US 83 came in from the south and joined US 290 east of Junction, where the two roads headed west through town. North of town, US 83 diverged from US 290, and continued north to the Oklahoma border.
US 290 entered Junction from the east, joined with US 83 and left US 83 to continue west to El Paso. Therefore, SL 481 is clearly the former route of the Old Spanish Trail. (
visit link)
The gorgeous Art Deco Kimble County Courthouse at 501 Main St. was completed in 1929. It would have been a modern landmark for early automobile travelers venturing down the Old Spanish Trail in the 1930s.
Perhaps travelers then visited the courthouse for the same reason the travelers today do: as an air-conditioned place to use the restroom while exploring an interesting building and attractive courthouse grounds.
With Schreiner park nearby, we can imagine that few folks would be picnicking in front of the courthouse, however there may have been some who wanted the picnic here, far from the overwhelming temptations for children to get wet and muddy in the South Llano River. (For the record: Blasterz carry extra clothes for 3/4 of the Blasterz. If it's a reasonably warm day, we ALWAYS give in to the temptation to get wet and muddy in a river.)
In 2016, this elegant and understated courthouse is entering its eighth decade of service to the citizens of Kimble County -- and still a nice place to visit.