The Fannin County Courthouse is a historic courthouse building located in Bonham, Fannin County, Texas. Built in 1888-1889 of rough-cut local limestone from Gober by Scottish-born stonemasons Kane and Cormack, it was designed in the Second Empire style of architecture by Waco-based architect Wesley Clark Dodson (1829–1914) of the firm Dodson and Dudley. As built it was similar in appearance to the Hood County Courthouse Dodson designed shortly after it.Fannin County GenWeb: Picture of pre-1929 courthouse with tower Its central clock tower and elaborate mansard roof were destroyed by fire on New Year's Eve, December 31, 1929, and were replaced by a flat roof.Pictures during and right after 1929 fire and later In 1965 the courthouse was modernized, the remaining roof pediments were removed and the exterior was covered with a smooth surface of what is called Lueders stone or Lueders limestone, so that it appeared to be a Moderne or rather plain Art Deco building.Texts of all Fannin County historical markers including the one for the courthouse which misspells Lueders Texas Escapes page on Fannin County Courthouse Familytree 101 Fannin County
In 2008 the county received a state historical renovation grant and discussion ensued about whether to restore the building to its earlier grandeur.
On November 8, 2016, a courthouse restoration bond proposal was passed by Fannin County voters. This $12.5 million bond, in conjunction with a matching $5 million grant from the Texas Historical Commission, will restore the courthouse to its original 1888 design.
See also
List of county courthouses in Texas
References
External links