First Stone Courthouse
First stone courthouse in Montague County
In 1878, the Court began advertising in the Texas Northwest for architects and contractors to send plans and specifications for the building of a new courthouse. This courthouse was to be built of stone or brick and projected cost for the project should be between $10,000 and $20,000.10 On July 5, 1878, J.S. Thomas of Fort Worth was given the contract to build the new courthouse. When the courthouse was finished it cost a total of $22,000.11 The courthouse was accepted June 2, 1879, and approved November 1879.12 A picture attached to this essay shows a stone courthouse identified in The Bowie News, July 24, 1858, as the courthouse at Montague. Unfortunately for Montague County, this stone courthouse burned in the early morning hours of March 31, 1884. Many records were lost in the fire, but records secured in vaults were saved. Three men who had been indicted for cattle theft were accused of lighting the fire in a plot to destroy their indictments. Two of these men were later convicted of arson. The citizens of Bowie tried to get the county seat moved from Montague to Bowie. A vote took place. Bowie received the most votes, but not the two-thirds majority required by law. The seat of county government remained in Montague. Without a courthouse, the officials of the county had offices in Dr. Strickland’s brick store house.13 Court during this time was held in local churches or outside if the weather permitted.
The Second Stone Courthouse Second stone courthouse in Montague County
Again in need of a courthouse, the Court advertised in the Fort Worth Daily Gazette for the building of a new courthouse.14 This time the cost was to be between $20,000 and $40,000. T.