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According to information on
historical markers at the square:
After the Texas Legislature created
Lampasas County in 1856, official business of the county was
conducted from a variety of spaces and buildings. Land for the
Courthouse Square was set aside when the town of Lampasas was
platted in the 1850s. In 1882, the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe
Railroad extended their tracks to the county seat, bringing
significant growth and prosperity to the area.
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Photo
Copyright© Laura Kestner |
In 1883, the Commissioners Court, with
County Judge W.P. Beall presiding, hired Waco architect Wesley Clark
Dodson, to design the new courthouse. The building contractor (Kane
Brothers) and the stone contractors (T. Lovell and Company) executed
Dodson's plan, completing the building in 1884. Reflecting the
influences of the Second Empire and Italianate styles of
architecture, the Lampasas County Courthouse features a central
clock tower, arched windows and a Mansard roof. In 1884, the
Commissioners Court authorized the city to place a Seth Thomas clock
in the tower.
Since its construction, the courthouse
has been a focal point for city and county activities, including
local festivals. Floods in 1936 and 1957 damaged the building,
requiring repair and reconstruction. Today, the stately Lampasas
County Courthouse remains an outstanding example of the golden era
of courthouse construction in the state. It continues to serve as an
important symbol of the county's growth and development and as an
influence on the historic character of the county seat.
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