Form No. 10-300 , ^0

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM

nATA SHEET FOR NPS USE ONLY

RECEIVED OCT 25 1976

DATE ENTERED DEC 12 ^ 6

- ^ SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETENAT/ONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES -- COMPLETE APPLICABLE SECTIONS

Q N A M E HISTORIC

D a l l a s Coun ty C o u r t h o u s e AND/OR COMMON

OLOCATION STREETS NUMBER

Hous ton and Commerce S t r e e t s —NOT FOR PUBLICATION

CITY. TOWN

D a l l a s VICINITY OF

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

5 STATE CODE

Texas 0^8 COUNTY CODE

D a l l a s 113

CLASSIFICATION

OWNERSHIP

X

CATEGORY -DISTRICT

BUILDING(S)

—STRUCTURE

—SITE

—OBJECT

^PUBLIC

—PRIVATE

—BOTH

PUBLIC ACQUISITION —IN PROCESS

—BEING CONSIDERED

STATUS ^OCCUPIED

—UNOCCUPIED

—WORK IN PROGRESS

ACCESSIBLE —YES: RESTRICTED

^ Y E S : UNRESTRICTED

— NO

PRESENT USE AGRICULTURE —MUSEUM

—COMMERCIAL

—EDUCATIONAL

—ENTERTAINMENT —RELIGIOUS

^GOVERNMENT —SCIENTIFIC

—INDUSTRIAL

—MILITARY

—PARK

—PRIVATE RESIDENCE

TRANSPORTATION

OTHER:

QOWNER OF PROPERTY NAME

Co\an ty o f D a l l a s STREETS. NUMBER

H o u s t o n a n d Commerce S t r e e t s CITY, TOWN

D a l l a s VICINITY OF STATE

T e x a s

Q L O C A T I O N OF L E G A L DESCRIPTION COURTHOUSE, REGISTRY OF DEEDS.ETC D a l l a s C o u n t y C o u r t h o u s e STREET& NUMBER

H o u s t o n a n d Commerce S t r e e t CITY, TOWN

D a l l a s STATE

T e x a s

• R E P R E S E N T A T I O N IN EXISTING SURVEYS

'̂̂ •"̂ H i s t o r i c S i t e s I n v e n t o r y

DATE

1970 —FEDERAL ^TATE —COUNTY —LOCAL

DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS T e x a s H i s t o r i c a l C o m m i s s i o n CITY, TOWN

A u s t i n STATE

T e x a s

D E S C R I P T I O N

CONDITION C H E C K ONE C H E C K ONE

—EXCELLENT —DETERIORATED —UNALTERED XQRIGINAL SITE

2iG00D —RUINS ^LALTERED —MOVED DATE

—FAIR —UNEXPOSED

DESCRIBETHE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (IF KNOWN) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

The Dallas County Courthouse, a massive structure of contrasting blue granite and red Pecos sandstone, was b u i l t i n the Romsuiesque Revival s t y l e . The primary a r c h i t e c t , M.A. Orlopp, was bom i n Brooklyn, New York, to German immigrant parents. I n June 1881, Orlopp graduated from the United States Navel Academy, and spent the next four years surveying railroads for the United States Corps of Engineers. At the time of his commission f o r the Dallas Courthouse he was practicing as a p r i n c i p a l i n the f i r m of Orlopp and Kusener of L i t t l e Rock, Arkansas. Or i g i n a l l y the building was dominated by a massive central tower 205 feet i n height which, at the time of i t s erection, made i t the second t a l l e s t building i n the state. I t housed four clockfaces and a ̂ ,500 pound Howard b e l l . In February of 1919 a s t r u c t u r a l f a i l u r e forced removal of the tower.

Otherwise the exterior l a r g e l y retains i t s h i s t o r i c character. Rising from a one-story base of blue granite from Arkansas, the succeding stories are of red Pecos sandstone enhanced by contrasting stringcourses and window enframements of the l i g h t e r stone. The masonry i s strongly textured and features the heavily arched openings characteristic of the Romanesque. The entrances are supported on marble columns from Burnet. Eight c i r c u l a r t u r r e t s are dominant visual elements of the building as i t now stands. At two elevations projecting pavilions r i s e to tr i a n g u l a r terminations lacking only the small flanking spires with which they were o r i g i n a l l y adorned. O r i g i n a l l y each elevation featured a four foot t e r r a cotta g r i f f i n from the Indianapolis Terra Gotta Company as adornment. Only two remain, one i n i t s h i s t o r i c p o s i t i o n , and the other preserved i n the Dallas H i s t o r i c a l Commission's archives.

The i n t e r i o r retains many of i t s h i s t o r i c features. Marble wainscots appear throughout and many cast i r o n decorative and st r u c t u r a l features are s t i l l extant. Several major renovations have occurred; the f i r s t on November 4, 19151 when the Woemer and Cole f i r m was allocated $60.00 fo r drawing plans d e t a i l i n g the i n s t a l l a t i o n of e l e c t r i c l i g h t s . I n November of 1968, the f i r m of Mollat D. Adams undertook improvements of l i g h t i n g and plumbing f a c i l i t i e s and the i n s t a l l a t i o n of two staircases and a new elevator. The contract for renovation was awarded to the Jansen Construction Company at a cost of $13*50 a square f o o t , with a t o t a l cost of $584,000 .00 .

Despite these modifications the q u a d r i l a t e r a l layout t y p i c a l of Texas courthouses of the period i s preserved along with much of the o r i g i n a l character of the ext e r i o r . The Dallas Coxinty Courthouse has been described as "second to none i n the South, a building to r e f l e c t the wealth and enterprise of the states' leading county." I t i s c e r t a i n l y one of the more s i g n i f i c a n t Romanesque Revival structures i n Texas.

S I G N I F I C A N C E

PERIOD

—PREHISTORIC

— 1400-1499

— 1500-1599

— 1600-1699

— 1700-1799

-?1800-1899

— 1900-

AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE - CHECK AND JUSTIFY BELOW

ARCHEOLOGY-PREHISTORIC

ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC

—AGRICULTURE

^ARCHITECTURE

ART

—COMMERCE

—COMMUNICATIONS

—COMMUNITY PLANNING

—CONSERVATION

—ECONOMICS

—EDUCATION

—ENGINEERING

—EXPLORATION/SETTLEMENT

—INDUSTRY

—INVENTION

— LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

—LAW

—LITERATURE

—MILITARY

—MUSIC

—PHILOSOPHY

—POLITICS/GOVERNMENT

—RELIGION

—SCIENCE

—SCULPTURE

—SOCIAiynUMANITARIAN

—THEATER

—TRANSPORTATION

—OTHER (SPECIFY)

SPECIFIC DATES 1891-1892 BuiLDER/ARCHiTECiOrlopp and Kusener, a r c h i t e c t s

STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

The h i s t o r i c Dallas County Courthouse has regional architectLiral significance. One of the largest Romanesque Revival buildings to be erected i n the state, i t i s also one of the most handsome. Good proportions and in t e r e s t i n g massing with c y l i n d r i c a l forms juxtaposed against rectangular forms a l l contribute to the strength of the arch i t e c t u r a l statement. The use of arched openings of various proportions i s successfully ; i n i f i e d on the two narrow facades by two-story arcades comprising dominant cen t r a l features on each elevation. Noteworthy d e t a i l s further c o n t r i b u t i n g to the visual impact of the design include a r c h i v o l t s i n strong r e l i e f , slender engaged columns flanking the openings of the upper s t o r i e s , and decorative tympanums i n the two-story range of arches. While the use of stone from state quarries provides l o c a l association, the s t y l i s t i c d e t a i l s are consistent with Romanesque buildings found i n other sections of the United States.

The block on which the I891-92 courthouse i s located has been the s i t e of the nucleus of county government since the foxmding of Dallas. The f i r s t s e t t l e r of Dallas County was John Neely Bryant, who established himself near the present courthouse square i n I Q k l . The area was incorporated as Dallas County by an act of the Texas Legislature on March 30, 1846. For a time Bryant's l o g cabin housed the county court under the j u r i s d i c t i o n of Judge John H. Reapan.

The f i r s t permanent courthouse was a log cabin described as being sixteen feet by sixteen feet with a puncheon f l o o r and s p l i t log seats. I t was located on the northeast comer of the square.

The t h i r d courthouse was a two-story building of bric k , f i f t y feet by f i f t y feet. I t s construction was authorized i n October of I855 and plans were prepared by John J. Good, J.M. Patterson, and W.W. Peak. I t occupied a central position i n the courthouse square and was received by the press as "most handsome'. This structure was almost destroyed i n i860 by a f i r e which ravaged nearly the entire c i t y . The structure was r e b u i l t and served the county u n t i l I871, at which time i t was sold at "public auction."

The cornerstone f o r a fourth courthouse was l a i d i n October, I871. The building, to be constructed of "hard granite" from a quarry six miles east of the c i t y , was two stories i n height, and 66 feet by

ClMAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES Alexander, B i l l , "The Dallas Coxirthouse of 1890", unpublished MS,.

Texas Tech University. 1976 Irwin, Jack C, "Dallas County Courthouse", Texas Architect. A p r i l , I968,

pp. 25-27 Robinson, Willard B., & Webb, Todd, Texas Pulbic Buildings of the

Nineteenth Centruy, University of Texas Press, Austin. 197^

iEjGEOGRAFHICAL DATA ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY 2 a C r O S ..

UTM REFERENCES

AL1J4J I7l0.5l3 .9.01 l3.612 >8l 7.4,01 B | _ J I I . I • . | I • I • I • . | ZONE EASTING NORTHING ZONE EASTING NORTHING

cl • I I I • I • • I I • I . I • • 1 oLJ I I • 1 • . I I • I . I • . I VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION

Boimded by Houston Street and Jefferson Avenue; and Main and Commerce Streets

• LIST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUNTY BOUNDARIES

STATE CODE COUNTY CODE

STATE CODE COUNTY CODE

QFORM PREPARED BY NAME/TITLE Willard B. Robinson, Professor of Architecture

S. Elizabeth Sasser, Research Associate 9-I6-76 ORGANIZATION DATE

Division of Architecture-Texas Tech University 806/7^2-2430 STREET & NUMBER TELEPHONE

P.O. Box 4499 CITY OR TOWN STATE

Lubbock Texas STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER CERTIFICATION

THE EVALUATED SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS PROPERTY WITHIN THE STATE IS:

NATIONAL STATE J( LOCAL

As the designated State Historic Preservation Officer for the N^flbnal Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Public Law 89-665) , I

hereby nominate this property for inclusion in the National ^ p i s t e r and certify thaty f | fas been evaluated according to the

criteria and procedures set forth by the National Park Servic^

STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER SIGNATURE

Texas State Historic Preservation Officer

ECTOR, OFF ATTEST:

FDR NPS USE ONLY

1 HERESY CERTIFY THAJ^HtS PROPERTXlSiW«J14U^5> IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER

DATE

KEEPER OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER

GPO 892- 453

Form No 10-300a (Rev. 10-74)

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM

FOR NPS USE ONLY

RECEIVED OCT 2 6 1976

DATE ENTERED DEC 1 B 1376

CONTINUATION S H E E T ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ G o u n t y DUMBER ^ PAGE ^

llOi feet. I t cost $75,000. In I88O, a f i r e p a r t i a l l y destroyed the building. The walls were, however, l e f t intact and remodeling was accomplished with the addition of a Mansard roof Eind central tower at a cost of $80,000. The building burned once again on February 15. 1890.

Architect, M.A. Orlopp of L i t t l e Rock, was employed to prepare drawings for the construction of a new courthouse. The project was l e t to contractor R.L. James on Jvily 23, I890, for an estimated cost of $276,967.50. The cornerstone block of blue-grey granite, was l a i d on November I6, 1890. Construction was subsequently halted by a labor dispute in which imskilled laborers struck for a wage of $1.25 an hour for a ten-hour work day. On July 20, I891, James was relieved of his duties by the commissioners' court which ordered his name chiseled off of the cornerstone. The Fort Worth Daily Gazette" for that date reported that "the labor element i s delighted, as James paid no attention to their demands, and hired union and non-union labor as best suited him." A further source of controversy was a high board fence surrounding the construction s i t e . Having been denoimced repeatedly by the Federation of Labor and Farmer's Alliance, i t was removed after James' dismissal. Architect Orlopp was retained as architect and job superintendent at a salary of $2,000 after a $10,000 performance bond was posted.

The building was occupied i n the winter of 1892. I t s finished cost was $59,1^.00 more than the original estimate. Although a new structure has been b u i l t , the Romanesque Revival temple continues to serve the functions of coxmty government.

GPO 892 455

Property Dallas Co. Courthouse

State Texas Working Number 10.26.76.4390

TECHNICAL ^ . . ^ / ^ . 7 V ^ CONTROL Photos y A / ^ ^

HISTORIAN

ARCHITECTURAL HISTORIAN

. \

ARCHEOLOGIST

OTHER

HAER Inventory Review

REVIEW UNIT CHIEF

ANCH CHIEF

K E E P E R

National Register Write-up Send-back Entered DEC 12 1976 Federal Register Entry A 1 Re-submit

I N T : 2 1 0 6 - 7 4

United States Department of the Interior National Park Service WASO No. 7

ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER

STATE TEXAS

Date Entered 0£C ^̂ ^̂

Name Location

Stark, W. H.» House

Cleburne Carnegie Library

Wlee County Courthouse

Brltton-Evans House

CoBial County Courthouse

i Dallas Courthouse Alaiao Portland and Roman Cement Works

Orange Orange County

Cleburne Johnson County

Decatur Wise County

Corpus Christi l^eces County

New Braunfels Coasal County

Dallas Dallas County

San Antonio Bexar Coimty

Also Notified

Hon. John G. Tower Hon. Lloyd H. Bentsen Hon. Charles VJilaon Hon. Olln E, Teapue Hon. Omar Burleson Hon. John Young Hon. Robert C. Kruegar Hon. Alan W. SteeL'san Hon. Henry B. Gonzalez Regional Director, Southwest Region

/ 880 MMott/row 12/14/76

State Historic Preservation Officer Mr, Truett Latlaer Executive Director Texas Historical Coomlsslon P.O. Box 12276, Capitol Station Austin, Texas 78711

INTi iS80-7S

^ NATIONAL REGISTER DATA SHEET . . - . ^ . , . . J * » „ J „ „ „ 1 l ( 2 ) O T H E R N A M E S : £ V \ d a t e of e n ( r v I l ^ c o i

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L O C A T I O N s t r e e t & n u m b e r V c i t y / t o w n v i c i n i t y of r ^ N P S R E G I O N

D I S T R I C T NOMI IM/^

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• unexcavated

TUCT-O i i D NOT

@ A C C E S S D Y E S - R ,

@ A R E A S OF S I G N • ARCHEOLOCY-preliistoric-

• ARCHtOLOCr-histonc-I

^ARCHI '

• ART-5

YES - U n r e s t r l

' I C A N C E •• •[NGIN[[RING-Il • COMMERCE-B • ENTERT(llNMEMI-26

• COMMUNICATIONS-/ • EXPLORAIION -12

• CONSERVATION-8 QHEALTH-?;

• ECONOMICS- 9 • INOUSTRY-13

n EDUCATION-IO • INVENTION • 14

• LITERATURE- U

• MILITARY- 18

• MUSIC- 19

• PHILOSOPHY - 20

SAVEO^ DYES I I!

• SEllGION-22 • SETTLEMENT-29

• SCIENCE- 23 • URBAN PLANNING-31

• SOCIAL/HUMANITARIAN-24 • OTHER (SPECIEY)

• SOCIAL /CUlTURAl-30 • TRANSPORTATION-25

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| E T H N I C G R O U P A S S O C I A T I O N

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^ l andscape archi tect / garden designer: ^ i n t e r i o r decorator: ^ a r t i s t : p a r t i s a n : ^bu i lde r / con t r ac to r :

^ N A M E S give role & date PERSONAL:

EVENTS :

INSTITUTIONAL:

NATIONAL REGISTER WRiTE UP ^CtC- FAC&O 5W*0ST?>Ke i H^Ue ei^tJUHb) V/« STORje^l HOPirifeO M:Cnu^eL1»|

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