History

Designed by W. C. Dodson of Waco, the Hood County Courthouse is classified as the Second Empire architectural style. This style was most popular between 1865 and 1880. Its name comes from architectural elements in vogue during the Second French Empire. These elements include the rectangular tower and the design of the roof.

The roof underwent a number of modifications over the years. In April of 1894 leakage prompted the County Commissioners to have the original zinc roof soldered and painted to make it more weathertight. Later, during the 1930s, the roof was painted with black tar. As the early years of the 20th century went by more modifications were added in the forms of electricity and gas connections, as well as restrooms.

In the late 1960s a wind storm damaged the tower to the point that it was removed in sections and a massive steel structure was installed to stabilize it.

Partnering with the Texas Historical Commission, Hood County undertook an exterior restoration of the courthouse in 1998. It was during this phase of restoration that the original appearance of the roof was replicated using lead coated copper and zinc with 20 gauge stainless steel intermediate structural framing. In 2008, Hood County again partnered with the Texas Historical Commission to begin restoration of the courthouse interior.

Makeover

The journey for the Hood County Courthouse began with removal of the external heat/air conditioning units. This enormous project created 120 geothermal wells (265 feet deep), dug in the courthouse parking lot. The courthouse is now heated and cooled using the geothermic wells.

The shrubbery around the courthouse has been removed, but the pecan trees were allowed to remain. As the handicapped lift on the west entrance was removed, the outside of the courthouse began the makeover
of its original structure. To comply with state laws, a handicapped ramp was installed on the east entrance.

Repairs made the windows weathertight and restored them to where the bottom sections open and close. The wooden shutters, original to the building, are in the process of being replaced. The “brick” tile in the first floor main hallway was removed. The hallways were originally just cement floors. The drop ceilings were removed and the corrugated tin ceilings have been restored to their original appearance.

Removal of the carpets revealed the original wooden floors. These have been cleaned and treated with tung oil. Restoration of all woodwork and trim plus all of the vault doors is complete. The safes in the Treasurer’s and Judge’s office were restored to their original appearance.

On the second floor, the steel structure that hung down into the courtroom ceiling was removed and replaced with a structure that is hidden in the walls of the building and rises above the ceiling of the courtroom. The five offices that divided the perimeter of the upstairs courtroom were removed, leaving the courtroom in its original dimensions with the ceiling restored. The paint experts discovered the stenciling and decorative painting in the courtroom, and this was restored.

The original Seth Thomas Tower Clock is working and the original McShane Bell is ringing the hour again.

The Future 

The Future of Hood County Courthouse is as beautiful as the building’s restoration.

Justice of the Peace for Precinct 4, Danny Tuggle, has already moved into his offices in the restored courthouse. His offices are located on the north side of the first floor, where the county clerk’s offices originally stood. Constable for Precinct 4, Chad Jordan, will also have offices on the first floor, northeast corner of the courthouse. The new County Judge, Darrell Cockerham, will have his offices in the southeast corner of the first floor, where the County Judge’s office has always been. The Judge should move back to the courthouse by January 2012.

The Hood County Historical Commission’s room is on the first floor in the southwest corner, where the Treasurer’s Office was originally located. A number of furnishings original to the courthouse will be arranged in this room.

The 2nd floor courtroom has been equipped to accommodate Commissioners Court sessions, and can be used by the County Court and the Justice of the Peace Court as needed. The information systems department will have a room on the third floor, but the rest of the rooms as yet are unassigned.

The original hand-wound Seth Thomas Tower Clock has been hooked up and is nearly ready to operate again, and the original McShane Bell is ready to strike the hour once more.

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