Long awaited restoration of 94-year-old courthouse to begin

by County Judge

Hal Rose

Kimble County’s aging courthouse is finally going to be restored to its historic condition. This long anticipated restoration is the result of Commissioner Court and other community leaders’ efforts for more than twenty years. The restoration is being made possible through a cost-sharing grant with the Texas Historical Commission.

The current courthouse was preceded by two others, one built in 1878 and the other in 1885. The 1878 courthouse

Today’s courthouse,

sheriff allen Castleberry

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County Clerk’s Office. As that annex was not part of the current original courthouse it will not be replaced as part of the historic renovation.

According to the Landmark designation, the courthouse was “designed by San Antonio Architect Henry Truman Phelps (1871 - 1944). Between 1904 and the early 1930s, Phelps designed courthouses in more than ten Texas counties. While he based the Kimble County Courthouse on classical plans, its features are expressive of a new era in architectural design. By the late 1920s, Phelps’ designs had evolved to reflect the influences of the art moderne style. This [is] evidenced by the building’s geometric ornament, cast stone pilasters and stepped parapet and square pattern belt course.” More information on the courthouse’s history can be found on links at the website, http://texasescapes.com.

Former County Judges Andrew Murr (now a State Representative) and Delbert Roberts, with the support of many County Commissioners, were instrumental in finally obtaining funding for the restoration after 20+ years of trying. In 2022, the County received a Historic Courthouse Preservation Grant from the Texas Historical Commission. For a while now, unavoidable and continuing costly repairs have been required at the courthouse. There have been foundation problems, a leaky building, no working elevator, and other failing, old equipment that has become increasingly difficult and costly to repair, if repairs could be made at all. To say the least, main- taining the building became cost prohibitive and not a good use of taxpayer resources.

The County Commissioners Court cannot, on its own, make renovations to the building without careful coordination with the Texas Historical Commission due to the Landmark designation. The currently estimated cost of the restoration project based on the initial architect’s plans made in coordination with the Historical Commission is $9,406,432, with the county’s share being $4,320,968. The County is now working closely with its construction manager, JC Stoddard, and architect for the project, Hutson Gallagher, to develop a firmer and hopefully lower construction estimate and bid for the project. If things go as planned, the restoration work on the courthouse could begin as early as June 2023, with a move-out date in late May for the offices in the courthouse. The courthouse restoration project is anticipated to take at least two years to complete.

The Commissioners Court looked at a number of options for temporary office space for county offices and ultimately decid- ed that improving community buildings and paying rent to local owners would be the best choice for temporarily housing the county offices. The plan is for the offices of the District/ County Clerk, Treasurer, Probation (Adult and Juvenile),

Ag Extension and DMV to be in the former Medical Clinic Building at 105 Reid Road; the County Judge’s office will be across the street from the Courthouse at 127 North 6th Street and the Justice of the Peace’s office will be at 415 Main Street (along with storage of furniture and other items that will not regularly be used during the renovation). Regular court dockets are planned to be held at the Stevenson Center with trials to be held in one of the local church gymnasiums and adjoining rooms.

A top priority for the Commissioners Court is to carry out the restoration project in a cost-effective and timely manner. The current elected members of the Commissioners Court are County Judge Hal Rose and Commissioners Dennis Dunagan (Precinct 3), Kenneth Hoffman (Precinct 4), Brayden Schulze (Precinct 1), and Kelly Simon (Precinct 2).

The County Park lies just across the South Llano River from Schreiner Park. It can be accessed by going east across the South Llano River Bridge and taking the first left. The park closes each night at 10 p.m., and no overnight camping is permitted. Also, public consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited.

On both the south and north ends of the park are restrooms and playground equipment. The park also contains sand volleyball courts, a basketball facility and part of the local disc golf course. Throughout the entire park, wheelchair-access walkways connect the various improvements to private picnic areas, where families can gather to cook on BBQ pits and grills.

The natural assets of the park site are numerous. Large pecan trees provide a canopy of spring/summer shade, and the view across the small lake into Junction is picturesque. The park also features a canoe launch, allowing those with watercraft easy access. By paddling around the lake and upstream a bit, an angler can gain access to great fishable water.