LaSalle county, tx

This month’s selection, the LaSalle County Courthouse in Texas.

In 1931 LaSalle County Texas built its fourth courthouse in Cotulla since 1884. The building is highlighted with Art Deco and Beaux-Arts elements. The courthouse has four terra-cotta eagles one over each of the four entrances. The four-story courthouse was designed by architect Henry Truman Phelps of San Antonio. Phelps designed seventeen Texas courthouses, and this one, his second in LaSalle County, was his last.

My visit to this South Texas courthouse was made especially memorable by Maintenance Engineer Rocky Perez, a gentleman in his 50s. I arrived late afternoon on a 102-degree July day where Mr. Perez was fixing the sprinkler system on the courthouse’s front lawn. After introducing myself, I said, “It’s sure a hot one.” He responded without pretension, “This isn’t hot. 115 degrees or more is hot here.” Despite the building’s closing in fifteen minutes, he kindly gave me a tour of the courtroom and the old jail upstairs. This holiday post is dedicated to Rocky Perez and the many maintenance personnel across the country who preserve classic courthouses. Without their expertise and care, many beautiful temples of justice would become dilapidated, likely leading county governments to replace therm.

The courthouse features glazed bricks, 60 county insignias over the windows, the terra cotta eagles and terrazzo floors. Texas Time Travel. The courthouse has an immaculate single courtroom on the second floor. The courtroom’s most notable feature is its witness stand where the witness sits alone or “naked.” The stand is equidistant from the judge and jurors. It has a black swivel seat and wood railings held up by wrought iron. Tasteful blinds protect the courtroom and other rooms from sweltering Texas sun.

LaSalle County was organized in 1880 and named after the French explorer Rene Robert de LaSalle. Over 90% of the county is devoted to farming and ranching. The county seat of the historic courthouse is Cotulla, population 3675. Cotulla is 90 miles southwest of San Antonio. Cotulla was a rough and tumble railroad town where according to legend, conductors announced passenger arrival, “Cotulla! Get your guns ready.” Texas Time Travel. The present population of LaSalle County is approximately 7000.

The Texas Historical Commission (THC) is the state agency for historical preservation. It awards up to $10 million to eligible counties through a biannual competitive application process. It also offers annual maintenance workshops to educate and train county facility manages on best maintenance practices. Texas which has 254 counties  has long had an interest in preserving its classic courthouses.

Thank you to Rocky Perez of LaSalle County for the late afternoon tour of this immaculate courthouse.