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COURTHOUSE RESTORATION PROJECT

Opportunity Knocks

An Overview Of Restoration

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise 03/09/00

The Donley County Courthouse is over 100 years old, and its age is showing.

Structural problems, a lack of maintenance, and general wear and tear have taken their toll. Despite this, the Courthouse may yet have a bright future if the people of Donley County are willing to seize the opportunity at hand.

Last year the Texas Legislature, at the request of Gov. George W. Bush, authorized $50 million to fund the Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Project.

The funds are administered by the Texas Historical Commission (THC) and will be distributed as 85 percent matching grants (in other words, for every 15¢ the county puts in, the state will contribute 85¢) to repair and restore the state’s endangered county Courthouses.

Eager to get in on the ground floor of this historic project, the Donley County Commissioners’ Court hired the architectural firm of Volz & Associates, Inc., to study the Courthouse and prepare a Master Plan for the building.

Now the plan is completed and has been submitted to the THC for their approval. Once it is approved, the county will have until April 3, 2000, to apply for funding in the first round of grants from the state.

In April, the Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Project Committee will meet to evaluate the applications, and the grants are scheduled to be made in May.

But first, as part of the grant application, the county’s leaders must determine how much Donley County is willing to spend to repair and restore the Courthouse.

According to the Master Plan, to fix all of the problems with the building and restore it to its original condition will require more than $2.9 million. Donley County would have to pay 15 percent of that amount, which would be about $440,000.

The commissioners’ court will be deciding whether to commit to a full restoration of the Courthouse this month.

“I just don’t know where else we’re going to find someone willing to give us 85¢ on a dollar,” County Judge Jack Hall said. “We have a great opportunity here that we can’t afford to miss.”

How much is $440,000?

The figure $440,000 is a lot of money for the average citizen. (That’s the amount Donley County would have to contribute as a 15 percent match on about $2.9 million.) But in looking at the county’s history, it is a manageable sum.

In 1890, Donley County spent about $35,000 to build the Courthouse. Adjusted for inflation that would be $629,867 today. (That’s strictly in dollar for dollar terms; it doesn’t reflect the actual costs of building a similar building today.)

In 1974, the Courthouse Annex was built for $198,690. That is the equivalent of $724,299 in today’s dollars. And in 1981, the Donley County Jail cost $295,038. Today that would be $578,833.

Restoring the 1890 Courthouse would involve fixing all of the known problems with the building, (See What's Wrong?) and equipping the building for the 21st century.

Heating and air-conditioning would be installed. Plumbing and electrical systems would be replaced, and a fire alarm and sprinkler system would be added. New restrooms would also be constructed.

Some of the county functions would be removed from the Courthouse Annex. The County Judge’s office and the Commissioners’ Court would be returned to the Courthouse, and space would be provided for a District Attorney’s office. The Justice of the Peace and the Probation Office would remain in their present locations.

The hardware on the doors would be refurbished to their original condition.

A sound system would be added to the District Courtroom, and the historic vault doors throughout the building would be cleaned and preserved. Cast iron fireplaces in several offices would be restored also.

The third story tower and dormers that were torn off in the 1930s would be rebuilt to restore the Courthouse to its 1890 appearance. All flashing, guttering, and metal cornices would be redone.

The masonry walls would be repointed, repaired, or replaced as necessary.

The balcony on the north side of the building would be recreated, and all the windows would be completely reconditioned. The stained glass window would be repaired and reinforced.

The non-original vestibule at the entrance of the building would be removed, and the steps and handrails would be replaced. The threshold of the doors would be changed to meet accessibility requirements. Weather-stripping would be installed.

In short, for less than $500,000, Donley County would have a modern Courthouse with all the splendor of an 19th century building.