The original design of the Hamilton County Courthouse was similar to
 
                     that of many other courthouses built in the state during the 1880s.

                     The ground floor plan was divided into office quadrants by north-south

                     and east-west corridors extending through the building. On the second

                     floor was a spacious courtroom.
 

                     Originally, the building was in the Second Empire style. Pavilions at

		     each corner were crowned by Mansardic roofs with dormers. Yet another

		     Mansardic roof surmounted the center section. Crowning the composition

		     was a centrally positioned tower with wooden framework covered by

		     sheetmetal skin into which Classical details had been pressed.
 

		     As was characteristic of Victorian courthouses, a variety of stone-work

		     was employed to enhance the edifice in Hamilton. Walls were quarry-faced

		     ashlar limestone. Window openings on the ground level were spanned with

		     Roman arches with cut-stone voussoirs; those on the second level were

		     spanned with stilted arches.
 

		     In 1931-1932 the building was enlarged. Following plans prepared by E. M.

		     Miles, contractor J. C. Ray and Sons changed the character of the

		     building. Wings were added to the north and south and porticoes with

		     triangular pediments were added to the east and west. Square towers rising

		     above the roof lines, provided a transition between the new and the old.
 

		     Additional harmony between the new and the old was developed through the

		     exterior details. The stonework on the additions was similar to the

		     nineteenth century work. Ashlar patterns of quarry-faced stones, along with

		     cut-stone quoins, all provided unity. Then the Roman-arched openings with

		     cut-stone voussoirs created an additional relationship with the older

		     sections of the building.


		     The Hamilton County Courthouse possesses both architectural and historical

		     significance. Architecturally, the original nineteenth-century building

		     incorporated handsome details and sound construction. In the twentieth

		     century, rather than erecting a new building as was done in many counties,

		     Hamilton County Commissioners decided to authorize additions which were

		     fashionable for their times, yet were quite compatible with older section--a

		     unique composition of forms resulted. Historically, by expanding in this

		     manner, the original courthouse was able to serve as a center of county

		     activities for over three quarters of a century.
 

		     The nineteenth-century section of the building incorporated details that

		     were typical of Second-Empire styled edifices. Both Roman and segmental

		     arches of cut stone with pronounced keystones spanned the openings. The

		     walls were further enhanced by fine stonework, including cut stone quoins

		     and ashlar patterns.
 

		     Significantly, in developing harmonizing designs for the addition, the

		     architects repeated the use of Roman arches to span the openings. At the

		     base of each tower is a tympanum that incorporated low relief figures

		     relating to the history of the county--a trend in symbolism that appeared

		     in other Texas courthouses built at the same time. Impressions of cowboys,

		     Indians and livestock are among those displayed under the arches. The

		     ashlar patterns of stonework of the original also were repeated in the

	             additions. Then, the location of the top cut-stone stringcourse of the

		     original four pavilions became the level of the coping in the new addition,

		     thus creating a continuous line tying the new to the old. Below this was

		     placed an entablature of cut stone. To further unity the entire composition

		     on the north and south and to provide the monumental character that was so

		     much admired in the early decades of the twentieth century, porticoes with

		     paired columns of colossal order placed upon pedestals were incorporated

		     into the design. Capitals were in the Ionic order, and the entablature and

		     pediment were simply detailed. In the pediment was placed the seal of the

		     State of Texas. Of course the removal of the Mansard roofs from the original

		     section was necessary to allow the development of unity between the new and

		     the old.
 

		     Hamilton County was created from parts of the surrounding counties in 1858,

		     four years after the first permanent settlement was initiated by Robert

		     Carter. Located in west-central Texas, it developed an economy primarily

		     based upon agriculture. Before the Civil War the county population was less

		     than 500 and as late as 1870 it was still under 1,000. As was characteristic

		     of newly settled areas, the population mushroomed after the arrival of the

		     railroads and by the turn of the century was over 13,000.
 

		     Typical of fledgling counties, the Hamilton County government was housed in

		     make-shift quarters during the first years. In 1869 Jones Store was used

		     for a $2 fee. Two years later it was recorded that the school house was

		     used for district court. During the early 1870s a "rock house" was rented;

		     however, this building burned in 1877.
 

		     Shortly thereafter, the plans and proposal of contractors Martin, Moody and

		     Johnston were accepted for a new $12,000 temple of justice built in the

		     center of the public square. It was completed in less than a year. However,

		     in 1886 misfortune struck again and this courthouse also burned. Fortunately

		     a fireproof record vault with double walls of bricks and a brick barrel

		     vault overhead protected some of the records.
 

		     After an election determined that the seat of justice should remain in

		     Hamilton--rather than "J. D. Hunt's location or Pigtown"--plans submitted

		     by contractors Martin, Byrnes and Johnston were accepted. Bids were

		     solicited through advertisement in the Dallas bloming News and the contract

		     to build the new $60,000 temple was awarded to Lovell, Hood and McLeod of

		     Brownwood, Texas. Final payment on the building was made in February, 1887.

		     It had been built in nine months.
 

		     The interior incorporated fireproof construction. The second floor was

		     supported on corrugated iron arches over which was placed concrete.
 

		     Through additions and remodelings the courthouse has been expanded and

		     updated. Today it continues to serve the needs of county government.

		     Throughout its history the courthouse, with the surrounding commercial

		     buildings, has been a center of many types of functions, including

		     social, legal, justice and commercial activities. Local residents

		     affectionately associate the monumental building with the history of

		     the development of the county.
 

		     BIBLIOGRAPHY ON FILE IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER