The Brewster County Courthouse, located in the heart of Alpine, Texas, stands as a testament to the region’s rich history and architectural sophistication. Erected in 1887 when Brewster County was created, this courthouse is not only a functional government building but also an architectural marvel.
As an architectural entity, the Brewster County Courthouse presents an interesting and rather sophisticated local interpretation of the Second Empire Style. Tom Lovell, a local nineteenth-century contractor and presumed designer, demonstrated a substantial comprehension of design, massing, fenestration, and detailing, making the Brewster County Courthouse one of the finest buildings in Brewster County. Lovell’s expertise is evident in every corner of this historic structure.
Brewster County is named for Henry Percy Brewster, who was a secretary of war for the Republic of Texas and a soldier in the American Civil War. This naming honors Brewster’s contributions to Texas history and adds another layer of historical significance to the courthouse.
The courthouse is a two-story red-colored brick and wood structure located on landscaped grounds in the center of Alpine. The east front features a slightly projecting center section with a framed entrance and pediment on the first story. Above are two windows with a pediment at the roofline, accompanied by similar entrances on the north and south sides. The windows are arched, and the roof is mansard.
Inside, the first story has a center hall on the east-west axis bisecting the offices. The large wood-framed courtroom is located on the east side of the second story, while the south side of the first story houses a small courtroom. The building serves multiple courts, including the State District Court, Constitutional County Court, and Justice Court.
The courthouse underwent restoration in 2011, with the architect being Page, Southerland, Page and the contractor W.G. Yates & Sons Construction. Adjacent to the courthouse is the one-story red-colored brick Courthouse Annex, constructed in 1981, and the old red-colored brick County Jail built in 1888, remodeled in 1997 by Les Burke Architects and Dinosaur Valley Construction.
Unique Construction Details
The contractors burned their own bricks for the building in kilns near Ranger Canyon. J.C. Bird burned the lime that made the mortar, binding the bricks together. The construction cost for the courthouse and jail was $27,000, a significant sum at the time.
Tom Lovell, the courthouse’s contractor, also constructed courthouses in several other Texas counties, including Brazoria, Coryell, Denton, Hamilton, Hardeman, Hill, McLennan, and Runnels.
A Brief History
Brewster County was established in 1887, with Alpine chosen as the county seat. The first and current courthouse was built between 1887 and 1888 at a cost of $15,000, serving as a historical and functional center for the county’s judicial activities.
This blog post is authored by Rod Ponton, a local historian and practicing lawyer in Alpine, Texas. Having lived in Alpine all his life, Rod offers a unique and personal perspective on the history and significance of the Brewster County Courthouse. For more information about legal services in Alpine and Brewster County, visit Big Bend Law.
Big Bend Law 