Austin County Courthouse, Texas

County Seat – Bellville

Built – 1960

Style – Modern (as in aqua refrigerators or harvest gold stoves)

Architect – Wyatt Hedrick

Date Photographed – 12/30/2008

see Austin County Jail

Impressions – This modern (1960) structure was chosen to replace a much more ornate courthouse that had burned.  Little of the courthouse remained after the fire, but they did salvage the bell and have it displayed in front – complete with some melted parts.  As a representative of the 1960’s and that style, it’s really not too bad.  I like the clocks that are built into the facade of the courthouse (though one of them had no hands).  And in the interior, the metal shaped ceiling is so typical of the early ’60’s.  Bellville itself has a nice town square and is bustling, being fairly close to Houston.  This courthouse just doesn’t really do anything to make the town square noteworthy.  Use the link above and go see the more historical and decorative jailhouse, a remnant of the Victorian era.

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