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Fort Bend’s old court house celebrates 100 years
From staff reports
As the new year often symbolizes a fresh start and a new beginning, Fort Bend County will look back during 2009 on the last 100 years as the old Court House celebrates it’s centennial.
On Jan. 19, 1909, the old court house at 401 Jackson Street in Richmond was formally dedicated to serve the 18,168 residents of Fort Bend. According to the county it was built for $75,000, the equivalent of $1.7 million in 2007 dollars.
Designed by C.H. Page and Brothers, the old court house building is a mix of brick and stone, with turrets and a copper dome, with a distinct three-story rotunda. The building’s mosaic-tile flooring and green glazed-tile wainscoting have been used as the backdrop of several films and documentaries as well as the location for many high-profile civil and criminal cases.
But as the county grew so did the court house, as it received two additions, one in 1935 and again in 1957. According to the county’s web site more than $3 million was invested in the court house during the early 1980’s to renovate the facility and retain its historic integrity. In 1980 it was designated as a National Historical Landmark.
The old court house will be closed by 2011 and preserved, after the completion of the new judicial complex. With more than 529,000 residents, Fort Bend County’s new court space will house all the courts and judicial staff in one location, while providing adequate parking for staff and potential jurors.
THEN & NOW
FORT BEND COUNTY’S POPULATION:
Then: more than 18,000
Now: 529,000 and growing
SPEED LIMITS
Then: 20 miles per hour speed limits were first adopted by several states
Now: 55 miles per hour on U.S. Highway 90A to Richmond
THE MUST-HAVE
Then: Teddy bears
Now: Cell phones
MUSIC
Then: Copies of sheet music sold by the millions
Now: Downloading services like iTunes and Amazon.com saw more than 1 billion tracks bought in 2008.
TECHNOLOGY:
Then: radios began to bring music and news to the entire nation
Now: Personal digital assistants like iPhones, Blackberrys and PalmTreos make news, maps, weather, music and communication all within a button’s reach.
On Jan. 19, 1909, the old court house at 401 Jackson Street in Richmond was formally dedicated to serve the 18,168 residents of Fort Bend. According to the county it was built for $75,000, the equivalent of $1.7 million in 2007 dollars.
Designed by C.H. Page and Brothers, the old court house building is a mix of brick and stone, with turrets and a copper dome, with a distinct three-story rotunda. The building’s mosaic-tile flooring and green glazed-tile wainscoting have been used as the backdrop of several films and documentaries as well as the location for many high-profile civil and criminal cases.
But as the county grew so did the court house, as it received two additions, one in 1935 and again in 1957. According to the county’s web site more than $3 million was invested in the court house during the early 1980’s to renovate the facility and retain its historic integrity. In 1980 it was designated as a National Historical Landmark.
The old court house will be closed by 2011 and preserved, after the completion of the new judicial complex. With more than 529,000 residents, Fort Bend County’s new court space will house all the courts and judicial staff in one location, while providing adequate parking for staff and potential jurors.
THEN & NOW
FORT BEND COUNTY’S POPULATION:
Then: more than 18,000
Now: 529,000 and growing
SPEED LIMITS
Then: 20 miles per hour speed limits were first adopted by several states
Now: 55 miles per hour on U.S. Highway 90A to Richmond
THE MUST-HAVE
Then: Teddy bears
Now: Cell phones
MUSIC
Then: Copies of sheet music sold by the millions
Now: Downloading services like iTunes and Amazon.com saw more than 1 billion tracks bought in 2008.
TECHNOLOGY:
Then: radios began to bring music and news to the entire nation
Now: Personal digital assistants like iPhones, Blackberrys and PalmTreos make news, maps, weather, music and communication all within a button’s reach.
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