North Texas Counties

The Route to Eight Counties in North Texas

I continued my quest to photograph all 254 Texas county courthouses on Friday, June 6th. My friend David Billingsley, joined me once again on this "day" trip. The goal of the trip was to visit and photograph at least six counties in north Texas. We would make seven.  It would be our last day trip.  Because of the distances involved we had to leave early, 4am from Houston. Our route took us up I-45 to Ennis where we picked up US287. This highway takes you through Fort Worth and on to Witchita Falls.  It was a familiar route to both of us.  We often used it for trips to Colorado from Houston. We got into heavy morning traffic in Fort Worth. The highway was also under construction. Consequently, we missed the right turn to US287 and we found ourselves on I-35 headed to the airport. The GPS got us back headed in the right direction and back on 287.  We turned north on SH59 at Bowie and on to Montague, Texas.

Montague County Courthouse, Montague, Texas

The Montague County courthouse is a Classical Revival style designed by George Burnett.  It is built of brick, steel and concrete.  It originally had a large dome which was damaged in a windstorm in 1941 and it was removed.

Our next stop was in Henrietta, Texas, county seat of Clay County.  This is really an unusual looking structure. It is an Italianate architecture and reminded me of some of the Italian churches I've seen. The problem with photographing this courthouse is all the trees. They completely obscure a complete look at the building.  It was built in 1884 but was altered by removing the clock tower, roof alterations and building of the dome.  

Archer County Courthouse

Our next county was Wichita and Wichita Falls, the county seat.  It has one of the ugliest courthouses in the state. So ugly I am not going to publish a picture of it.  It was built in 1916 but remodeled in 1961 into a box. At Wichita Falls we turned south and started to head back to Houston.  We found SH79 south and drove to Archer City, county seat of Archer County.

The Archer County courthouse is an 1891 structure designed by A. N. Dawson in Romanesque Revival style.  The Roman arched windows and doorways give it away.  It is built of sandstone.  It originally had a central tower, however, it was removed in 1926. No reason was given.  It was restored under the Texas Historical Commission program for historical courthouses.

Archer County Courthouse Courtroom

Throckmorton County Courthouse

We continued our journey southward on SH79 through Olney and on to Throckmorton, county seat by the same name.  The county and city were named for Dr.William Edward Throckmorton and early Texas pioneer and father of James W. Throckmorton, Texas senator and governor.  Throckmorton settled in Collin County and was active in local politics.  Throckmorton County was named for the doctor in honor of his son.




I was really disappointed when we pulled up to the courthouse square because the courthouse was in the middle of restoration. You can see the scaffolding on the sides of the building.  I was able to take a front photo of the courthouse.  I don't know if I will be back to Throckmorton. It is really out of the way and you need a reason to drive there.

Veterans Memorial Throckmorton County Courthouse

Even in the most obscure Texas counties, residents honor veterans.  I always find some kind of veterans memorial on the courthouse square, even in Throckmorton, Texas.










We continued our journey south on US283 to Albany, Texas, county seat of Shackleford County.  As we entered Albany we noticed a restored Gulf Oil gas station. We stopped an took a quick photo of the glass topped pumps and brick building. If you remember these you're old.

The Shackelford County courthouse is a Second Empire structure build in 1883.  It is a National Registry Property.  It was designed by J. E. Flanders, architect.  It was built using native limestone.  It is also one of the restored courthouses under the THC program, Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program.  The county was named for Dr. John Shackelford, one of the survivors of the Goliad massacre.

Gazebo and courthouse

The courthouse was open and public invited to see all the interior halls and courtroom.  The courtroom has the antique benches for the citizens to watch trials.  The lights are original chandeliers.

The clock tower dominates all other buildings in Albany.  The clock keeps good time also.

Callahan County Courthouse:  Texas Renaissance style architecture

Downtown Albany, Texas from the courthouse square

From Albany we continued south on US283 to Baird, Texas, county seat of Callahan County.  The courthouse is a 1929 Texas Renaissance style built of brick and designed by Voelcker and Dixoon. The county was named for James Hughes Callahan, who fought for Texas independence and also survived the Goliad Massacre.  

After reaching Albany we had to decide which way to go home.  We elected to go interstate all the way to Houston.  So, we headed east on I-30.  What I soon realized we would be going through Eastland, county seat of Eastland County.  So we took about 20 minutes out of our time and visited the Eastland County courthouse.

The Eastland County courthouse was designed by Lang & Mitchell.  Built in 1928 in the Moderne Art-Deco style.  It has stone carved adornments, like this eagle, on the exterior.
The courthouse is the resting place for the famous horned toad named "Old Rip" who survived the old courthouse cornerstone for thirty years.  After it died the county had it embalmed and placed in a casket in the courthouse.
I did not get a photo of RIP because of the lateness of the day and a long drive home.  This makes 187 counties out of 254.  This would be our last "day trip" because it takes too long to drive to even get to a new county.