Site of Third County Courthouse

Young County was organized in 1856 with Belknap as the county seat. After the retreat of frontier troops during the Civil War, renewed Indian trouble led to the county records being moved to Jacksboro in 1865. The county was reorganized in 1874 with Graham as county seat. In 1884, a two-story courthouse was built there of native sandstone quarried east of Graham by Irish workers, with N.J. Rosenquist, a native of Sweden and a builder of Texas courthouses, serving as chief stonemason. Its design featured two halls in the form of a Greek Cross following the points of the compass, and the remaining archway belonged to the east hall. County officials at the time of construction were Judge R.F. Arnold, Treasurer J.W. Wadley, County Clerk C.O. Joline, Tax Assessor J.G. Hill, County Attorney J.A. Woolfolk, Sheriff W.T. Bunger, and County Commissioners W.C. Blakey, J.J. Hughes, J.L. Mercer, and H.D. Williams. The courthouse was razed in 1932 after completion of the present structure, and in 1936 Fire Marshal A.A. Morrison led efforts to preserve the historic archway during street improvements. During its existence, the courthouse witnessed and preserved the records of many historic events of Young County.

Graham, Texas · United States