That is a mighty bold statement, but I think I can back it up. Alone this structure is gorgeous. Put this courthouse in the context of the Sulphur Springs downtown square and you have a panorama of beauty!
Highlights of downtown include:
* The perfectly manicured lawn and flowerbeds.
* Two see-through bathrooms (and they are CLEAN).
* Texas-sized chess and checkers.
* The Little Free Library (click here for more information).
* Lots of seating and places to charge your electronics.
* A lovely tribute to the veterans of Hopkins County (oh so amazing from the flags and wall of water to the eternal flame, searchable database, and the name of every veteran from our county) through the Veteran’s Memorial.
* Monuments and benches honoring the local men and women who served our great nation.
* A star-shaped water feature.
* Great shops and restaurants!
But wait, I have gotten off track! What I really wanted to share with you is a look back in time to show the courthouse through the years. Boy has it changed. Well, actually it hasn’t. It is the surroundings, the cars, and we who have changed!
That lovely, red structure has stood the test of time and served as a beacon to the center of commerce in our community for over 100 years. This beauty deserves her time in the spotlight.
Speaking of spotlights, the County, in coordination with the City, has installed new lights in the rooftop nooks and crannies of the courthouse. Drive by…you can’t miss it. Now the courthouse is lit-up like the star that she is!
Just a refresher on the Courthouse. It was built in 1894 and 1895 by James Reilly Gordon. It features double-hexagon staircases, Italian tile floors, two safes with lovely painted scenes, and a tower that one of these days I want to visit. It is a lovely structure that still serves our county as a working Courthouse.
