2009 Welcome to Wise.indd - Wise County Messenger

WISE COUNTY Courthouse
MESSENGER PHOTO BY JOE DUTY
WISE COUNTY COURTHOUSE
Standing proud and tall in the center of Wise County is its grandest structure of all – the 113-
year-old Wise County Courthouse in Decatur. The courthouse was constructed in 1896 of pink
granite. J.Riley Gordon of New York
was the architect.
Today it remains a distinctive landmark
in the county. Gordon’s design
has been praised as architecturally
perfect by noted experts of buildings
of this kind. The structure has been
awarded a historical medallion and
plaque from the Texas Historical Commission
and is listed on the National
Register of Historic Places.
The origins of the courthouse began
Jan. 8,1895,during a special meeting of
the county commissioners. The meeting
was called after a fire gutted the
previous courthouse.
An election was held in February
1895 to determine whether the courthouse
should be moved. Decatur won
the right to keep the courthouse with
2,200 votes, followed by Bridgeport
with 1,355.
Gordon was chosen as the architect
in March 1895.
J.A. White was awarded the contract
to build the courthouse in May 1895.
Construction began in June and was
scheduled for completion in May of
the following year.
It appeared that construction ran a
little behind schedule, and the building
was not completed until late 1896.
The courthouse was officially received
by the commissioners in January
1897.
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