07/07/19 #’s 25, 26, 27, and 28

The title doesn’t tell much, and that’s because I covered a bunch of courthouses today.  I’m on my way to Alaska on my Africa Twin.  My first stop is at my sister Patt’s in Edmond, Oklahoma.  I decided if I went there on the back roads I could get some courthouse pictures along the way.  I went up Texas Hwy 19 to Palestine, Athens, Canton, and Emory, and got the courthouses for Anderson, Henderson, Van Zandt, and Rains Counties.

#25 Anderson County Courthouse – Palestine, Texas

Anderson County Courthouse history

From Palestine, I continued up Texas 19 to Athens.  Here’s the Henderson County Courthouse.

#26 Henderson County Courthouse, Athens, Texas

All the sides of this courthouse look the same.  This is a real nice example of a fine Texas Courthouse, and the AT looks like a pack mule.  It’s almost as comfortable.

Under the Oak Tree – sounds pretty convenient – bring the accused prisoner to the bench, find them guilty, and hang them right there.  Talk about speed to trial, et al.

Onward to Canton and the Van Zandt County Courthouse.  I’ve been to Canton many times.  When your married to an antique collector/dealer you’re going to go to Canton to 1st Monday, more than once.  In the times I’ve been there I never paid much attention to the courthouse.  I also thought it would be impossible to  get a good picture with all the weekend traffic, but it wasn’t.  In fact, a truck driver saw that I was trying to get into position to take the picture, and he stopped in the middle of the block so I could.

Thanks, Mr. Truck Driver.

#27 Van Zandt County Courthouse, Canton, Texas

Not very interesting history, but a very cool courthouse.

Not far up the road from Canton, is the town of Emory and the Rains County Courthouse.

#28 Rains County Courthouse, Emory, Texas

Many of the counties built multiple courthouses near the turn of the century.  Many had fires for some strange reason.  I like the fact that they used a local brick company to build this one.  Of course, transporting enough bricks to build a courthouse in 1907 was more complicated than building a brick factory 3 miles away.  Just my thoughts.

I traveled north on 19 to Sulfur Springs, hoping to get one more courthouse.  When I got there I rode right past what I believed to be the Hopkins County Courthouse, but there was no place to park (even my motorcycle) and no access for a good picture.  Something was going on and the downtown area was filled with weekenders from the DFW Metroplex.  Maybe next time when I’m just passing through.

Next stop was Oklahoma, and then onward to Alaska.  Check it out Bud’s 2019 Trip to Alaska

Later, Bud…