RESOURCES

Virtual Courthouse

Years	Evolutions in the design of the Cass County Courthouse
1850's	Original courthouse specified by Judge Charles Ames to be modeled after Marshall's Greek Revival "Little Virginia".
1860	Courthouse built; original size: 50' X 60'; 400,000 locally made brick; shingle roof
1861	Courthouse completed and paid for. Original colors: "Spanish Brown" brickwork with "Lead color" roof and white trim
1879	Redecoration. Paint scheme: "Venetian Red" bricks, white mortar and green woodwork
1903	Earliest known photo of Courthouse: Dedication of Civil War Monument
1905	Extended two full (50') depth bays on East End.
1908	Cyclone' destroyed most of downtown Linden. Courthouse lost original Cupola.
1909	Repaired Cyclone Damage;Victorian Cupola Design; "Tin" roof; External stairs to 2nd floor door
1917	Moore proposal to build extensions for stairwells on east and west ends of courthouse
1917-18	Added set-back bays (with 3rd floors) on each end; "Tin" roof & dome over center; Large Doric Portico North & South
1933	Fire destroyed second floor, roof, and 3rd floors on East & West wings. Most records rescued by citizens.
1933	Fire damage: Top floor gutted; most of roof gone or damaged beyond repair
1934	Post-fire repairs & revisions: 3rd floor added on center section; Fred Halsey's "great truss" system added to support full-length roof. Terrracotta tile roof added at this time.
1934-1980	Three full-width floors; seven full-depth bays; two set-back bays
1939	View of Courthouse from Northeast Corner (TXDoT)
1980-present	Handicap access provided; one full-width bay on west; two-bay "Moore set-back" added on east for elevator. 3500 sq ft abandoned on east end.
Present	The Cass County Courthouse: Only Antebellum courthouse in Texas -- continually functioning as a courthouse since 1861
Future	Restored Courthouse -- as proposed