Historic Courthouse

Lavaca County Courthouse

Hallettsville, Texas

Built in 1875 and contractor J. E. Dietz & Co..

Cost $16,500. In 1873, plans for a new courthouse were submitted to the court and accepted . The contract was awarded to J. E. Dietz and Co. on its bid of $16,500.00. The building was not completed until November of 1875 even though the first materials for the structure arrived in January of 1874. In the interim, court was held in the Riemenschneider's Furniture House. When finally built, the courthouse was a two story stone building with a shingle roof.. In 1897, it was deemed unfit and demolished in order to make room for the present courthouse (Boethel). It was decided that the timber from this courthouse would be reserved to build bridges in Lavaca County. Most of the lumber was used to construct a bridge over Rockaway Branch, east of town. Conflicting reports state that the demolition of this courthouse was started by the General Contractor of the present courthouse, A. T. Lucas, and the remaining lumber and stone were bought by Friench Simpson and M. A. McKnight for $400.00 (Kubicek, p. 8-9); however, another reports states that the courthouse was demolished and bought by Jonathan Speary for $330.00 (Boethel).After the demolition of the courthouse, most of the county offices were relocated to the Opera House and the Elstner building (Boethel). The vault from the County Clerk's office was moved to the southwest corner of the courthouse yard. A temporary building built for the County Clerk's office was constructed around the vault and served as that office for 20 months. The building was 22x44 feet with 12 foot walls, 6 windows and 1 door. The front 24 feet of the building was floored and the entire building weather boarded. The Clerk's office was constructed for $48.00 by T. B. Dowling (Kubicek, p. 9 & 11). The temporary County Clerk's office was dismantled after the completion of the present courthouse and rebuilt by S. J. Townsend at the County Poor Farm for a sum of $24.00 (p.43). There, the old County Clerk's building served as a kitchen and dining room with a small corner of the building designated as a holding room for insane persons (p. 52). The vault was once again dismantled and reassembled in the new District Clerks office on the second floor of the new courthouse for a sum of $350.00(p. 34 & 43) and the iron left over from the old iron vault was sold at a public auction (P. 52).

1894: repairs made to courthouse and a belfry added to the roof.1897: demolished.1897: temporary building constructed for county clerk.Other county offices spread around town in rented facilities.

Current status: gone/demolished 1897

The Texas Historical Commission's (THC) nationally recognized and award-winning Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program (THCPP) has turned around the trend of disrepair and begun restoring these treasured historic landmarks. Texas has more historic courthouses than any other state. Today more than 240 courthouses still stand that are least 50 years old. About 80 were built before the turn of the 20th century. By the end of that century, most of these structures were significantly deteriorated due to inadequate maintenance, insensitive modifications or weather related damage. The Texas Historical Commission (THC) documented the condition of 50 of the state’s oldest courthouses in the late 1990s and determined that counties lacked the resources to preserve the buildings for future generations.

agriculture railroads business law courthouses buildings
Texas does believe in a fair deal and clean politics
Molly Ivins in Fond Farewell
Lavaca County, located in southeast Texas, has a rich and diverse history dating back to its settlement in the early 19th century. The area was originally inhabited by Native American tribes, including the Karankawa and Tonkawa people, who thrived off the land's natural resources. European settlement began in the 1820s, following the arrival of Stephen F. Austin's Old Three Hundred colonists.

In 1846, Lavaca County was officially established by the Texas state legislature and was named after the Lavaca River, which runs through the area. The county quickly developed as a center for agriculture, with cotton becoming the primary cash crop. Many plantations were established, and slavery played a significant role in the local economy, impacting the social and cultural dynamics of the region.

During the Civil War, Lavaca County supported the Confederacy, with many of its residents volunteering for military service. The county experienced the effects of the war firsthand, including economic hardships and infrastructure damage. In the post-war years, the cotton industry faced several challenges, including the boll weevil infestation and the Great Depression, which led to a decline in agricultural dominance.

In the 20th century, Lavaca County transitioned into a more diversified economy, with the growth of oil and gas exploration. The discovery of oil in the early 1900s brought prosperity to the region, attracting new residents and businesses. Today, Lavaca County continues to be primarily rural with a strong agricultural heritage, while also benefiting from the contributions of the energy industry. The county's deep-rooted history and ongoing development make it a unique and historically significant part of Texas.

This timeline provides a glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped the history of Lavaca County, Texas.

  • 1846 - Lavaca County is established by the Texas legislature, carved out of parts of neighboring counties.
  • 1849 - The first county seat is established in Hallettsville.
  • 1852 - The oldest known courthouse in Lavaca County is built in Hallettsville.
  • 1856 - The county's first newspaper, the Lavaca Democrat, is founded.
  • 1861-1865 - Lavaca County residents support the Confederacy during the Civil War.
  • 1867 - St. Peter's Lutheran Church, the oldest continuously active Lutheran congregation in Texas, is established in Hallettsville.
  • 1873 - The Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio Railway extends its tracks into Lavaca County.
  • 1881 - A new courthouse is constructed in Hallettsville to replace the original courthouse.
  • 1922 - The area around Lavaca County experiences a significant oil boom, leading to increased economic activity.
  • 1936 - The current Lavaca County Courthouse, a Classical Revival-style building, is completed in Hallettsville.
  • 1942-1945 - Many Lavaca County residents serve in World War II.
  • 1997 - The Lavaca County Courthouse is added to the National Register of Historic Places.
  • 2010 - Lavaca County celebrates its 150th anniversary since its establishment.
  • 2018 - Lavaca County continues to be a predominantly rural area with a strong agricultural industry.