Grayson County TXGenWeb




Reconstruction of the Grayson County Courthouse after fire in 1930 destroyed the one built in 1876.
Construction began in 1934 and completed in 1936.


source: Calendar Grayson County 140th Birthday, 1836 - 1986

County Judge A.S. Noble, Presiding Officer, approved a least contract dated May 9, 1930 between the Sherman Independent School District and Grayson County for a 2-story brick building on N. Travis St. to be used by the County as a temporary Court House.  The lease was for a period of one year from May 9, 1930 for $3,0000 annually with the right to renew the lease May 31, 1931.
An immediate problem in the aftermath of mob burning of the Court House was the safety for the area in and around the vaults containing the offices and records of the District and County Clerks.  On May 15 the Court contracted with the firm of John Tulloch, architect, to inspect the vaults for the safety of the clerks, employees and public; the report was that the vaults were safe except for the south wall which was buckled out and needed to be removed.  The old walls of the court house that remained standing had to be torn down; the upper vault required a roof be constructed for cover.  Morgan & Simmons were awarded a contract to tear down the old walls at a cost of $175.00.  Wood Brows. and Allmon were awarded a contract to construct a stairway to gain access to the upper room of the vault and install windows at a cost of $524.50.  Roberts Electric Co. was awarded a contract in the amount of $200 to repair the door of the lower vault and put shutters on the east upper windows.  Max Gibbs & Sons replaced the roof on the vault at a cost of $224.45.  All repairs were made during the summer of 1930.
Since there were no restrooms for the ladies working in the County Clerk's office, the Commissioners Court rented the use of the restroom from Central State Bank of Sherman on September 10, 1930 at a cost of $2.50 per month.
On November 23, 1930, The Merchants and Planters National Bank of Sherman offered a loan to the County in the amount of $14,000.00 to be repaid in monthly payments of $250.00 and free of interest.  John Tulloch, architect was employed to draw plans and specifications for the construction of a temporary Court House on the site of the burned building and incorporating the two steel and concrete vaults that remained.
Ten bids were received on December 7, 1931 for construction of the temporary court house.  The bid of $11,131.66 submitted by Max Gibbs & Sons was accepted and a contract signed; J.C. Korioth Plumbing Co. was awarded a contract for the plumbing in the amount of $940.00; Roberts Electric Co. was awarded a contract for wiring for $195.00.  Construction of the temporary court house was completed February 1932.  On February 25 the four County Commissioners used their trucks and road maintenance employees to carry out the move into the building.  With living conditions worsening during the Great Depression, the Grayson County Commissioners Court began meeting two afternoons each week to hear residents' requests for written orders to be used to purchase food.
Nationwide voters made changes due to faltering economy and the deepening of the Depression; in 1932 election Grayson County voters elected all new candidates to their Commissioners Court.  The Grayson County Taxpayers Association was formed with the purpose of getting taxes lowered and weeding out what was believed to be unnecessary spending.  On April 16, 1932 the Association petitioned the Grayson Commissioners Court with a petition to abolish 7 county officers appointed by the Commissioners Court - Assistant Auditor, Farm Agent, Home Demonstration Agent, Engineer, Probation Officer, Highway Officer and Tick Eradicator - alleging that these offices were useless and unnecessary.  John Umphress of Van Alstyne, president of the Grayson County Taxpayers Association, presented the resolution, which was adopted by a vote of 65 to 4, saving the taxpayers $1,239.88; the resolution was signed by R.E. Wallace, J.D. Harling, P.L. Boggs and Sam C. Johnson.  Presented to the Commissioners Court, the resolution was immediately rejected.  On June 13, 1932 the Commissioners Court granted a 10% deduction on all assessed valuations for the tax year of 1932.
On September 12, 1933 the Grayson County Commissioners Court met in session and authorized Judge Jake J. Loy to investigate the feasibility of financing a new court house and jail building with Federal Government funds since reports by architects and building contractors indicated that the old county jail on W. Houston st. was obsolete and dangerous to the public and prisoners; it was proposed that a combined court house and jail could be constructed on the court house square at a lower cost than building two separate buildings.
Judge Loy consulted architects Voelcker & Dixon, Inc. of Wichita Falls as to the feasibility of constructing a combined court house and jail.  The court rescinded the on September 26, 1933 authorizing Judge Loy to make plans to build the proposed structure. Judge Loy decided to involve the public in the process thus inviting a group of 48 county taxpaying citizens to a county-wide meeting to discuss the construction of a new court house and jail as well as a county-wide road repair and maintenance program using Federal loans and grants.  The citizens group was overwhelmingly in favor of using grants and loans under the terms and conditions of the Federal Public Works Act.  A special session of the Commissioners Court was called on November 1, 1934 where the Court heard and approved the recommendations of the citizens group.  Judge Loy was authorized to proceed with an application of a loan and grant to construct a new court house and jail and a contract was signed with Voelcker & DIxon, Inc. to draw plans and specifications for the project.  On November 13, 1934 publication of notice to receive bids was ordered.  After the bids were opened on December 15, 1934, it was tabulated that the bid of J.E. Morgan & Sons of El Paso was $16,342 lower than the next lowest bid.  The company requested time to check their calculations; it was discovered that Mr. Morgan had omitted cost for painting the inside of the building,  After consulting with his father, Mr. Morgan Jr. reported to the Court that his father had said he had never reneged on a bid and to "build that court house and jail for those people."  On March 9, 1935 a loan and grant agreement was approved between Grayson County and the United States of America, P.W.A. providing a loan of $216,000.00 and W.P.A. grant not to exceed $87,000.00.
On March 19, 1935 the Commissioners Court rented a 2-story brick structure on S. Crockett from R.A. Chapman to use as a temporary court house until construction was completed.  A brick and mortar vault 20' x 6' long x 10' high was constructed across the rear of the building to store county records.  On October 18, 1935 the Commissioners Court awarded contracts for all furniture, equipment, elevators, etc. not included in the contract with J.E. Morgan & Sons.
Watson Manufacturing Co. - furniture & equipment, $6,750.00
Burge Manufacturing Co. - court room furniture, $7,700.00
Meletio Electric Co. - electric fixtures, $3,798.00
Southern Prison Co. - jail equipment, $24,425.00
Montgomery Elevator Co. - elevator, $6,092.00
Schevrer Bros. - finish hardware, $2,275.00
Corry-Jamestown Mfg. Corp. - metal furniture and fixtures, $8,800.00
The work on the new courthouse and jail began May 10, 1935 and was completed May 1936.  The building was constructed of native Texas limestone.  Using county equipment and road maintenance employees, the building was occupied May 16, 1936 and dedication ceremonies were held May 29, 1936.  

Five building were used as County Court Houses during the period of May 9, 1930 to May 16, 1936:
1876 Court House, 1876 - 1930
Sherman Junior High School Building, 1930 - 1932
Temporary Court House Building, 1932 - 1935
Chapman building, 1935 - 1936
1936 Court House and Jail, 1936 -


Contributor: Unknown

Sources
Source: Weldon O. Williams. A Journey Through History: Chronological Listing of Public Officials, Grayson Co., Texas, 1846-2000
"Angry Mob Rules in May 1930; Courthouse Burning Remembered." Sherman Democrat, Sunday, March 17, 1996, section 2, pg.11

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