Thursday Morning: 0430 hrs
Continuing my endeavor to photograph Texas courthouses and see some of this greatest state in the Union, I departed Houston via US59 and headed south. I wanted to visit as many counties as I could in one day; Bee, Live Oak, Duval, Jim Wells, Brooks, Kenedy, Kleberg, Nueces, Aransas,and San Patricio. That's 10 counties and in addition I wanted to revisit Refugio and Victoria in blue sky conditions.
I start with a photo of the world famous "Tee Pee Motel" in Wharton. Why? If you are driving across Texas, get off the main highways, interstate and explore. The Tee Pee Motel in on US59 Business in Wharton. So if you don't go into the small towns you miss places like the Tee Pee.
My first stop was in Wharton at Buckee's. What a great place for a rest stop; gas, coffee (very good) and they make the best egg, bacon (real and thick) and cheese breakfast sandwich. It is so much better than McDonald's. If you've never stopped at a Buckee's you're missing something.
Continuing south, I came to Goliad. Now Dave Billingsley and I went to Goliad earlier this year but is was cloudy. The "Second Empire" structure towers above the other buildings in Goliad. I stopped and took a photo of the courthouse from US59 as it goes through the town.
Traveling along south the first county of the day was Bee County and the county seat of Beeville. The courthouse can be seen from all over town, at least Lady Justice can. The courthouse is what is known as "Beaux-Arts", large pediment, dome, symmetry. This courthouse has a glass ceiling with four state of Texas silhouettes. There is a Navy F4 Skyhawk parked in the front on the square. The interior is beautiful and is one of the restored courthouses of Texas.
The next county of the day was Live Oak, named after the many trees that you find and the town of George West. It was the start of the Chisholm trail which went north to the railroads of Kansas. The courthouse is a Classical Revival (columns and symmetry) but Geronimo, Texas longhorn, in the window was the star.
Leaving George West, I continued south to Alice on US281. Alice was named after a railroad executive's daughter. The railroad built the town and county in the late 1800's. Alice has the only "Tejano" museum honoring Mexican-Am singers of that genera.
I made a quick trip to San Diego just west of Alice. It is the county seat of Duval County. It has a really run down courthouse so I didn't stay long. I was back on the road south to Falfurrias, county seat of Brooks County. This is another Classical Revival courthouse. Brooks County was named for a local Texas Ranger captain, James A. Brooks. The courthouse has been restored to its original condition, plus A/C and all the modern plumbing. The court bailiff took me on a tour of place and to the second floor and third floor balcony. I thought the ceiling lights were very appropriate for a courtroom, scales of justice. This was as far south that I would go today.
I turned east and headed to Sarita and Kenedy County. Sarita is mostly Kenedy Ranch property so I've included one of the entrances to the ranch in the photos. I used to hunt on this ranch years ago. It is really, really huge. Our camp house was 30 miles off the highway and we were not even in the middle of the ranch. The county has a beautiful courthouse. The county clerk opened the courtroom so I could get a photo of the interior.
Turning north now, I drove to Kingsville and Kleberg County. This courthouse is designed in Texas Revival, a common architectural building of the 30's. It combines elements from several styles to form it's on unique Texas style.
Corpus Christi was my next stop. I photographed the courthouse and not much else. I then drove to Rockport, Aransas County. This courthouse is what I call the "school house" style of architecture. About one of the ugliest courthouses I've ever seen. I took a photo of the courthouse that was demolished in 1950's, a J.Riely Gordon three story structure. What a shame it is to lose pieces of history like that.
From Rockport, I drove to Sinton, San Patricio County and through one of the largest wind farms ever. The courthouse has a really good memorial to WW1 featuring a "Doughboy" charging. He's on the corner of the square.
Next stop was Refugio. I've photographed Refugio before but it was cloudy. Thursday was bright blue skies. Refugio is another Texas Renaissance courthouse. Continuing north to Victoria, I wanted to stop here because of the light. I've been to Victoria before but it was cloudy. This is another J. Riely Gordon, "Romanesque Revival" courthouse. After photographing the exterior and details I went inside (5PM). I was told by the deputies that courthouse was closed. One of them, Donna, said she would take me through it. She was getting off work but took me through the first floor. There was a hearing going on in the courtroom so I couldn't see that. This courthouse has been fully restored and it is a beautiful building, one of which the citizens of Victoria are very proud.
My last stop was Wharton, just to see the courthouse and the town and Tee Pee Motel.
Hours on the road: 15
Miles traveled: 704
Continuing my endeavor to photograph Texas courthouses and see some of this greatest state in the Union, I departed Houston via US59 and headed south. I wanted to visit as many counties as I could in one day; Bee, Live Oak, Duval, Jim Wells, Brooks, Kenedy, Kleberg, Nueces, Aransas,and San Patricio. That's 10 counties and in addition I wanted to revisit Refugio and Victoria in blue sky conditions.
I start with a photo of the world famous "Tee Pee Motel" in Wharton. Why? If you are driving across Texas, get off the main highways, interstate and explore. The Tee Pee Motel in on US59 Business in Wharton. So if you don't go into the small towns you miss places like the Tee Pee.
My first stop was in Wharton at Buckee's. What a great place for a rest stop; gas, coffee (very good) and they make the best egg, bacon (real and thick) and cheese breakfast sandwich. It is so much better than McDonald's. If you've never stopped at a Buckee's you're missing something.
Continuing south, I came to Goliad. Now Dave Billingsley and I went to Goliad earlier this year but is was cloudy. The "Second Empire" structure towers above the other buildings in Goliad. I stopped and took a photo of the courthouse from US59 as it goes through the town.
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| Goliad County Courthouse stands tall |
Traveling along south the first county of the day was Bee County and the county seat of Beeville. The courthouse can be seen from all over town, at least Lady Justice can. The courthouse is what is known as "Beaux-Arts", large pediment, dome, symmetry. This courthouse has a glass ceiling with four state of Texas silhouettes. There is a Navy F4 Skyhawk parked in the front on the square. The interior is beautiful and is one of the restored courthouses of Texas.
The next county of the day was Live Oak, named after the many trees that you find and the town of George West. It was the start of the Chisholm trail which went north to the railroads of Kansas. The courthouse is a Classical Revival (columns and symmetry) but Geronimo, Texas longhorn, in the window was the star.
 |
| Live Oak County Courthouse |
Leaving George West, I continued south to Alice on US281. Alice was named after a railroad executive's daughter. The railroad built the town and county in the late 1800's. Alice has the only "Tejano" museum honoring Mexican-Am singers of that genera.
I made a quick trip to San Diego just west of Alice. It is the county seat of Duval County. It has a really run down courthouse so I didn't stay long. I was back on the road south to Falfurrias, county seat of Brooks County. This is another Classical Revival courthouse. Brooks County was named for a local Texas Ranger captain, James A. Brooks. The courthouse has been restored to its original condition, plus A/C and all the modern plumbing. The court bailiff took me on a tour of place and to the second floor and third floor balcony. I thought the ceiling lights were very appropriate for a courtroom, scales of justice. This was as far south that I would go today.
 |
| Kenedy County Courthouse, Sarita, TX |
I turned east and headed to Sarita and Kenedy County. Sarita is mostly Kenedy Ranch property so I've included one of the entrances to the ranch in the photos. I used to hunt on this ranch years ago. It is really, really huge. Our camp house was 30 miles off the highway and we were not even in the middle of the ranch. The county has a beautiful courthouse. The county clerk opened the courtroom so I could get a photo of the interior.
Turning north now, I drove to Kingsville and Kleberg County. This courthouse is designed in Texas Revival, a common architectural building of the 30's. It combines elements from several styles to form it's on unique Texas style.
 |
| Kleburg |
Corpus Christi was my next stop. I photographed the courthouse and not much else. I then drove to Rockport, Aransas County. This courthouse is what I call the "school house" style of architecture. About one of the ugliest courthouses I've ever seen. I took a photo of the courthouse that was demolished in 1950's, a J.Riely Gordon three story structure. What a shame it is to lose pieces of history like that.
From Rockport, I drove to Sinton, San Patricio County and through one of the largest wind farms ever. The courthouse has a really good memorial to WW1 featuring a "Doughboy" charging. He's on the corner of the square.
 |
| Refugio County Courthouse |
Next stop was Refugio. I've photographed Refugio before but it was cloudy. Thursday was bright blue skies. Refugio is another Texas Renaissance courthouse. Continuing north to Victoria, I wanted to stop here because of the light. I've been to Victoria before but it was cloudy. This is another J. Riely Gordon, "Romanesque Revival" courthouse. After photographing the exterior and details I went inside (5PM). I was told by the deputies that courthouse was closed. One of them, Donna, said she would take me through it. She was getting off work but took me through the first floor. There was a hearing going on in the courtroom so I couldn't see that. This courthouse has been fully restored and it is a beautiful building, one of which the citizens of Victoria are very proud.
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| Victoria County Courthouse |
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| Tee Pee Motel, north of Wharton on US59 |
Hours on the road: 15
Miles traveled: 704
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| Wharton County Courthouse |
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