Bill Text: TX HR68 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Commemorating the rededication of the restored Comal County Courthouse on January 22, 2013.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2013-02-20 - Reported enrolled [HR68 Detail]
Download: Texas-2013-HR68-Enrolled.html
| H.R. No. 68 | ||
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| WHEREAS, Proud residents of Comal County are gathering in New | ||
| Braunfels on January 22, 2013, to celebrate the rededication of | ||
| their historic and newly renovated courthouse; and | ||
| WHEREAS, The county's original courthouse was built in 1860, | ||
| but it had fallen into disrepair by 1897, when the county commission | ||
| hired James Riely Gordon to design a new one; a celebrated architect | ||
| of many Texas public buildings, Mr. Gordon crafted a courthouse in | ||
| the Romanesque style with rounded pavilion entrances at the four | ||
| corners as well as a central atrium for ventilation during the Texas | ||
| summers; and | ||
| WHEREAS, The cornerstone was laid in May 1898 containing, | ||
| among many other items, a copy of a Galveston newspaper, a history | ||
| of Comal County, a dance card, and beer bottle labels from the city | ||
| brewery; constructed of locally quarried limestone, the courthouse | ||
| was dedicated on January 22, 1899, with a ceremony featuring | ||
| performances by Schulz's Orchestra and the New Braunfels Men's | ||
| Singing Society; and | ||
| WHEREAS, In 1931, a three-story jail and an extension of the | ||
| district courtroom designed by local architect Jeremiah Schmidt | ||
| were attached to the building, and in 1951, Mr. Schmidt designed a | ||
| further addition, a vault for the county clerk's records; the | ||
| courthouse was remodeled and rewired in 1966, when air-conditioning | ||
| and an elevator were installed, and there were further renovations | ||
| in 1987; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Under the leadership of the Comal County | ||
| Commissioners Court, the current $8.6 million restoration project | ||
| began in the summer of 2011, when the 1931 and 1951 additions were | ||
| removed; the project's architects, Volz & Associates, along with | ||
| the Texas Historical Commission and RBR Construction, worked for | ||
| the next year and a half to restore the courthouse to its original | ||
| appearance while modernizing its electrical, communications, | ||
| plumbing, and air-conditioning systems; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Some original fixtures were returned to the | ||
| building, including an arch-top entrance window that had been | ||
| hanging in a local restaurant since 1977, as well as the original | ||
| judge's bench; 60 pieces of historic furniture were also returned | ||
| to the courthouse, and former fixtures that could not be located | ||
| were replicated, including a massive spiral staircase and 164 | ||
| theater-style seats for the commissioners courtroom and the | ||
| first-floor meeting room; and | ||
| WHEREAS, For more than a century, the Comal County Courthouse | ||
| has served not only as the seat of government, but as a record in | ||
| stone of the county's rich history and a monument to its people's | ||
| German heritage, and it is indeed a privilege to take special notice | ||
| of the rebirth of this splendid building; now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas | ||
| Legislature hereby commemorate the restoration and rededication of | ||
| the Comal County Courthouse and commend all those involved in the | ||
| project for their skill, commitment, and hard work; and, be it | ||
| further | ||
| RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be | ||
| prepared for the citizens of Comal County as an expression of high | ||
| regard by the Texas House of Representatives. | ||
| Miller of Comal | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Speaker of the House | ||
| I certify that H.R. No. 68 was adopted by the House on | ||
| February 18, 2013, by a non-record vote. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
