Stephens County Courthouse

This ornate doorway was the main entrance of the three-story red sandstone courthouse built here in 1883. Carved into its columns are the names of Architect J.E. Flanders, County Judge E.L. Walker, and three of the four commissioners; the fourth was omitted because he objected to the cost of the construction. A large cistern at the rear of the building provided water for the town. When the oil boom of the 1920s attracted more people to this area and the old structure was replaced by a larger courthouse in 1926, the portal was left as a reminder of the county's pioneer heritage.

Breckenridge, Texas · United States