Cass County Courthouse (Linden)

Architect: Charles Ames and Stewart Moore.

Year Built: 1859.

The Cass County Courthouse is located in the tiny northeast Texas town of Linden.

The Courthouse was designed by the then-County Judge, Charles Ames. It has remained in operation since 1861, making it the only existing Antebellum courthouse in Texas and therefore making it the oldest courthouse in continuous operation. The original 1861 section is nine windows wide and centered on the east entrance.

It is a three-story Classical Revival-style building, with its appearance mainly deriving from c.1900 renovation/expansion. In 1908, a tornado damaged the courthouse and destroyed the cupola. The courthouse was repaired and a Queen-Anne style cupola was added. In 1917, the Cass County Courthouse got a Classical Revival style makeover by architectural designer Stewart Moore and engineer Fred Halsey. After a fire in May 1933, repairs were made and the third story was extended over the courtroom.

The Texas Historic Commission restored the Courthouse and rededicated it in February 2012.

From the THC Marker:

When county was organized, 1846, courthouse was in Jefferson (now in Marion County, created from Cass in 1860). Linden was made county seat, 1852; a frame courthouse was built here, 1853. This brick structure, begun in 1860, was not completed until after the Civil War ended in 1865. It cost $9,877.00. It was enlarged in 1900 and 1917. After a fire in 1933, third floor was added. Courthouse now is valued at $1,000,000.00. Site of early work of 20th century U. S. Congressman Wright Patman and Texas Supreme Court Justice Ralph Hicks Harvey.

Note: Older pictures of this courthouse show it as being white. When I visited in the summer of 2021 it was distinctly beige or yellow.