| Title |
Val Verde County Courthouse (1887) |
| County |
Val Verde |
| City |
Del Rio |
| Address |
400 Pecan St. Del Rio, TX 78840 |
| Zip |
|
| Current Use |
Active Courthouse |
| Owner |
County |
| Service Dates |
1887-present |
| Constructed |
1887 |
| Architect |
Larmour & Watson, 1887; Atlee B. Ayres, 1915 |
| Contractor |
Hood and McLeod, 1887 |
| Style |
Second Empire and Classical Revival |
| Square Feet |
0 |
| RTHL Note |
SM |
| RTHL |
No |
| SAL Note |
1981 |
| SAL |
Yes |
| NR District |
|
| NR Note |
1977 |
| NR |
Yes |
| HD Eligible |
No |
| Description |
Designed in the Second Empire style and constructed of tan-colored limestone masonry. The walls are of pitch-faced ashlar, articulated by a cut stone water table and stringcourse. On each facade, a triangular pediment with modillions emphasizes the entrance. Originally constructed as a two-story building, it had mansard roofs with ornamental wrought iron railings and octagonal towers with steeply pitched roofs. The building was altered in 1915 to add a third floor and all the mansard roofs were removed and replaced with an octagonal dome with a low rise. |
| Modifications |
'Rebuilt' in 1915 by Atlee B. Ayres, altering entry porticoes and other elements with more Classical Revival detail [possibly following a fire?]. Mansard roofs removed. 1994: Plaster ceiling collapsed, structural damage is evident & county has abandoned the building. A Texas Historic Commission grant-funded restoration included the cleaning and patching of the exterior masonry, as well as the inclusion of replicated hardware and the rebuilding of the 1915 exterior masonry porches at all four entries. The courthouse was rededicated on July 23, 2004. renovation plans by Atlee B. Ayres (UT Alexander Archives) |
| Deed Covenant Expiration |
|
| Federal Grant Project |
|
| Federal Grant Year |
|
| State Grant Project |
|
| State Grant Amount |
0 |
| State Grant Year |
|
| Historic Structure Report Date |
|
| Historic Structure Report Author |
|
| Master Plan Date |
|
| Master Plan Author |
|
| Historic American Buildings Survey |
TX-3463 |
| County Population (1995) |
|
| Easement |
Easement |
| Easement Executed |
1/18/2001 |
| Easement Expiration |
perpetuity |
| Master Plan |
Yes |
| Architect Firm |
|
| Bibliography |
The People's Architecture |
| Construction Docs |
1915 renovation plans include existing plans (THC courthouse files) |
| Interior Images |
|
