Jefferson County Courthouse (Texas)

Jefferson County Courthouse
U.S. National Register of Historic Places

Jefferson County Courthouse
Location	1149 Pearl Street Beaumont, Texas
Coordinates	30°4′42″N 94°5′36″W / 30.07833°N 94.09333°W / 30.07833; -94.09333Coordinates: 30°4′42″N 94°5′36″W / 30.07833°N 94.09333°W / 30.07833; -94.09333
Built	1931
Architect	Fred Stone, Augustin Babin
Architectural style	Moderne, Art Deco
Part of	Beaumont Commercial District
NRHP Reference #	82004509^[1]
Added to NRHP	June 17, 1982

The Jefferson County Courthouse in Beaumont, Texas is one of the tallest courthouses in the state, and is an excellent example of Art Deco architecture. Built in 1931, it is the fourth courthouse built in Jefferson County. It was designed by Fred Stone and Augustin Babin, and is thirteen stories high. In 1981, an annex was added to the west side of the courthouse.

History

The Jefferson County Courthouse and Annex. The Port of Beaumont in the background.

The county has had four courthouses. The first building built by the county was a simple wood structure built to serve as the county jail. The second courthouse was built in 1854 and was a simple two story square structure. A third courthouse, a three story red brick building designed by E.T. Heiner, was built in 1893. By the late 1920s Beaumont had grown so much that the courthouse was inadequate to meet the needs of the people, and by early 1931 the present brick structure was completed. The architects were Fred C. Stone & A. Babin; the sculptor of the frieze panels and other architectural sculpture was Beaumont sculptor Matchett Herring Coe.

The building has retained nearly all of its originality over the years, including its marble interior, but in 1981 an annex was added to the west side to increase space. The annex connects to the original courthouse through the basement, first, and second floors. The only public entrance is though the annex due to recent security upgrades.

Floors eight through thirteen of the courthouse once served as the county jail, one can tell by the barred windows. Today the space is used for storage.

Restoration

A $22 million restoration project is currently underway. Phase one was completed in May 2009 when the copper roof from the 1940s was replaced with a multicolored tile roof, similar to the original. Phase two began August 2010, and will clean and restore granite and windows from the fifth to 13th floor.

Images

The main entrance.
The front entryway.
Art Deco detail near the entryway.
Detail on the rear of the courthouse.
Carving detail.
Main Lobby of Courthouse
Map of Jefferson County.
317th District Courtroom.
County Court at Law No. 1
Light fixture.
Courtroom heater grill.

References

↑ Staff (2009-03-13). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jefferson County Courthouse (Texas).

Jefferson County Courthouse Texasescapes.com

Beaumont Commercial District

Since 1893

Contributing Members	Jefferson Theatre Julie Rogers Theater San Jacinto Building Goodhue Building Orleans Building Hotel Beaumont Edson Hotel Jack Brooks Federal Building Jefferson County Courthouse Tyrrell Historical Library Gilbert Building

New Construction	Edison Plaza Century Tower

City of Beaumont

Counties	Jefferson Orange Hardin

Businesses	ExxonMobil Jason's Deli City of Beaumont Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company Port of Beaumont Entergy Conn's Ohmstede Limited

Education	Higher education: Lamar University Lamar Institute of Technology Primary and secondary education: Beaumont Independent School District West Brook High School

Community events and culture	Downtown Beaumont South Texas State Fair Symphony of Southeast Texas Beaumont Jazz & Blues Fest Boomtown Film and Music Festival Crockett Street Dog Jam Babe Didrikson Zaharias Gusher Marathon People From Beaumont

Landmarks	Montagne Center Vincent–Beck Stadium Provost Umphrey Stadium Beaumont Civic Center Ford Park Hotel Beaumont Julie Rogers Theater Spindletop Tyrrell Historical Library Jefferson Theatre Beaumont Commercial District

Parks and preserves	Beaumont Botanical Gardens Beaumont Country Club Big Thicket National Preserve Tyrrell Park and Cattail Marsh Village Creek State Park McFaddin and Texas Point National Wildlife Refuges Sea Rim State Park

Bodies of water	Neches River Sabine River Village Creek Pine Island Bayou Gulf of Mexico

Museums	Art Museum of Southeast Texas Babe Didrikson Zaharias Museum Beaumont Art League Beaumont Children's Museum Beaumont Police Department Museum Chambers House Clifton Steamboat Museum Dishman Art Museum Edison Museum Fire Museum of Texas John Jay French House Jefferson County Historical Commission Mini-Museum McFaddin-Ward House Spindletop-Gladys City Boomtown Museum Texas Energy Museum List of museums in East Texas

U.S. National Register of Historic Places

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