Burnet County Courthouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Burnet County Courthouse
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Burnet County Courthouse in 2010.
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 Burnet County Courthouse
Location in Texas
Burnet County Courthouse
Location in the United States
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| Location | 220 S. Pierce St., Burnet, Texas |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1937 |
| Architect | Milton Wirtz, et al. |
| Architectural style | Moderne |
| NRHP reference No. | 00001384 |
| Added to NRHP | November 15, 2000 |
The Burnet County Courthouse is an important historic building in Burnet, Texas. It's where many local government activities happen for Burnet County, Texas. This building was partly paid for by a special government program called the Works Progress Administration (WPA). It's the third courthouse to serve Burnet County.
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History of the Burnet County Courthouse
The current courthouse was designed by Lewis Milton Wirtz. It was finished on August 1, 1937. The building cost about $135,000 to construct.
Earlier Courthouses
The very first Burnet County Courthouse was a simple, one-story wooden building. It had a courtroom, a jail, and offices. In 1874, this first courthouse burned down.
A second courthouse was built in 1875. This one was made of strong limestone and also included a jail. Over time, this 1875 courthouse became old and needed many repairs. Because of this, the county decided it was time for a brand new building.
Why a New Courthouse Was Needed
For a long time, Burnet County needed a bigger courthouse. Some county offices even had to be located outside the main building because there wasn't enough space.
In 1934, the need for a new courthouse became very clear. A group called the Grand Jury looked into the county's needs. They found that important records were not safe from fire. They suggested that a new, larger building was necessary to protect these valuable documents.
Later that year, the mayor of Burnet, W.C. Galloway, suggested a plan. He proposed using special government programs to help pay for a new courthouse.
Funding the New Courthouse
In November 1935, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) announced its support. They set aside $74,000 to help build a new courthouse and fix the jail in Burnet County.
Since the WPA was helping, the local government of Burnet County also had to pay a part of the cost. The county needed to raise $74,000 to match the federal funds of $61,000. This would bring the total cost to $135,000.
To get their share of the money, the Burnet County Commissioners Court held an election. Voters got to decide if the county should sell special bonds. These bonds would help raise the money needed for the courthouse project.
The election to approve the bonds took place on December 21, 1935. The voters approved the bonds by 81 votes. This meant the county could move forward with building the new courthouse.
Building the Modern Courthouse
After the bonds were approved, county offices moved out of the old courthouse. Crews then began to tear down the old building in February 1936.
The current Burnet County Courthouse has two stories. It is covered in polished pink granite. This is the same type of granite used for the Texas State Capitol. The building features etched panels that show scenes from Burnet County's history and local businesses.
In 1974, an addition was built onto the back of the courthouse. This part was designed by Willis Environmental Engineering. The Burnet County Courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 15, 2000. This means it is recognized as an important historic site.
