[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 70 (Friday, May 9, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E736]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             HENDERSON COUNTY COURTHOUSE 100TH ANNIVERSARY

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                          HON. JEB HENSARLING

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 9, 2014

  Mr. HENSARLING. Mr. Speaker, on May 17, 2014 the citizens of 
Henderson County, Texas will observe the 100th year anniversary of the 
current county courthouse in Athens, Texas. While Henderson County has 
had three previous Courthouse buildings, the one that stands today has 
passed the century mark.
   Henderson County, established in 1846 by the Texas Legislature, was 
carved from Nacogdoches and Houston Counties and named for Texas' first 
Governor, J. Pinckney Henderson.
   The Henderson County Commissioners Court approved the building of 
the current courthouse on June 12, 1913. They authorized L.R. Wright & 
Company to erect the structure for the cost of $113,500. The L.L. 
Thurmon Architectural firm of Dallas designed the courthouse in the 
``Classical Revival'' style, the dominant type of architecture for 
Texas courthouses in the early 1900s. A marble cornerstone and time 
capsule on the northeast corner commemorates the structure's 
construction. In early 1914 the new courthouse opened for operations.
   The courthouse today stands in the square of Athens, Texas. Its 
entrances face the four cardinal points of the compass at the 
intersections of State Highway 19 and 31 and US Highway 175. In the 
beginning, this building housed county and district offices, auto and 
property tax offices, and courtrooms. Throughout the years, many 
improvements were made to the building. Major renovations were 
completed during the year of 1965 with the addition of an elevator, new 
windows, and improvements to the stairs. Other renovations were made in 
1986. The courthouse today still serves as the heartbeat to the county 
operations and community events.

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