Year Built: 1894
Architect: John Cormack
The Somervell County Courthouse is located in Glen Rose, Texas.
Built 1893. Late Victorian style. Native limestone construction. County was organized in 1875 and named for General Alexander Somervell (1796-1854), Texas soldier, colonist, and statesman. Court was first held in an old store across road from Barnard’s Mill. A log cabin (1 block w) was used later. Third courthouse (first on this site) was finished in 1882 but burned in 1893, along with many valuable records. Present structure has a fireproof vault.
Recorded Historical Marker – 1963
” … the Somervell County Courthouse’s civic function is visibly expressed through its strong, dignified and symmetrical architectural style. This ashlar masonry style, inspired by Henry Hobson Richardson’s adaptation of the Romanesque mode, was a predominantly used one in the construction of civic buildings throughout the 1890s, and one effectively accommodating one of Texas’ natural building resources, stone.
” … this sturdy and simply designed courthouse was built in 1893 by John Carmachiel at the cost of $13,500. [the cornerstone credits John Cormack as the Builder]
“The substance and character of the Somervell County Courthouse have been conveyed through symmetrical scaling and a simply embellished treatment of its rough-faced native limestone walls.”
From the National Register narrative
“The roof and clock tower have been greatly altered through the years since their original construction. Early photographs show the mansard roof and clock tower with elaborate cornice cresting, the clock faces themselves bold and handsome, and indeed the focal point of the building. However in 1902 a tornado did much damage to this portion of the building, and no attempt was made [at that time] to restore the tower back to this original state. Following the tornado, which had destroyed most of the cresting and the dignified clock faces, the tower was covered in pressed metal, the only embellishment remaining being the tower roof cresting, and the simple pilasters and keystone arches ornamenting the tower walls.” From the National Register narrative
The tower has lately undergone a restoration, including the installation of new clocks.
