April 3, 2018
The Caldwell County seat is in Lockhart, about 20 miles and half an hour from our campground. The county is named for Matthew Caldwell, a Texas Ranger and signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence.
The Caldwell County courthouse is Second Empire style. The cornerstone was laid August 15, 1893; construction of the three-story building took only about 18 months. The exterior is Muldoon limestone trimmed with red Pecos sandstone. The building was furnished with electricity but bathrooms were added later in broom closets. It’s said that after receiving the first water bill, the county judge had the restrooms padlocked.
The Seth Thomas clock faces four directions.
The original clock was in the tower from 1894-1994. We met the gentleman who restored the clock when we visited the Southwest Museum of Clocks and Watches [stay tuned for that post].
The original clock works
Entrance to the courtroom
Courtroom
Bench seating for spectators
Jury box
Jury room
Staircase
The courthouse is the center of a town square.
2 Comments
Jay Waters · April 18, 2018 at 11:58 am
Looks like the good citizens of Lockhart and Caldwell County are keeping things pretty well together.
Susan · April 19, 2018 at 4:15 pm
Great pictures and I love the feel of the old town. A real pharmacy!!!!