Eagle Pass in Maverick County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Maverick County Courthouse
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 31, 2014
1. Maverick County Courthouse Marker
A landmark of the Texas-Mexico border area. Built 1884-85, during term of county Judge Thomas Lamb, on site chosen by citizens' committee, who donated $800 toward purchase of land from R.E. Moffit. Architects: Wahrenberger and Beckman, San Antonio. Contractor: A local builder, William Hausser (1847-1919). Courthouse and a jail were erected at total cost of $20,489.
This was site of celebrated Dick Duncan murder trial, 1889. Duncan, accused of killing four members of a San Saba family he was escorting to Mexico, was convicted on evidence gathered by Sheriff W.N. Cooke and Texas Rangers Ira Aten and John R. Hughes. He was sentenced to death by district Judge Winchester Kelso. Duncan appealed to state and federal courts and gained national notoriety, but was hanged in the county jail on September 18, 1891, in the only capital execution ever carried out by Maverick County.
Early jail was replaced in 1949. A fine example of Victorian design, with crenellation that suggests a fortress, the courthouse is a border structure with great architectural significance. The clock tower still holds its original E. Howard works and
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 31, 2014
2. Maverick County Courthouse Marker (tall view)
this page online
Erected 1971 by State Historical Survey Committee. (Marker Number 3261.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings.
Location. 28° 42.521′ N, 100° 30.093′ W. Marker is in Eagle Pass, Texas, in Maverick County. Marker is at the intersection of Main Street (State Highway 240) and Madison Street, on the right when traveling west on Main Street. Marker is mounted directly on the wall, near the southwest corner of the subject building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 501 Main Street, Eagle Pass TX 78852, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 7 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Eagle Pass C.S.A. (a few steps from this marker); Maverick County (a few steps from this marker); Eagle Pass Post Office (within shouting distance of this marker); Fort Duncan (approx. 0.4 miles away); a different marker also named Fort Duncan (approx. 0.4 miles away); Fort Duncan Infantry Barracks (approx. half a mile away); Eagle Pass Coal Mines (approx. 3.2 miles away).
Also see . . .
1. Maverick County Courthouse.
The architectural firm of Wahrenberger and Beckman designed the 1885 courthouse in the Romanesque Revival style with Second Empire
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 31, 2014
3. Maverick County Courthouse Marker (wide view; marker visible left of door)
2. Historic Photo of Maverick County Courthouse and Jail.
This photo of the Maverick County Courthouse and Jail illustrates a common story in Texas. Often the courthouse and jail were built at the same time and often they were the first buildings on a desolate landscape. Similar photos exist for El Paso and Marfa - where the buildings appear to be on the surface of the moon. (Submitted on December 13, 2017, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
3. Images for Maverick County, Texas.
Historic images of the Maverick County Courthouse (Submitted on December 13, 2017, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 31, 2014
4. Maverick County Courthouse (wide view)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, May 31, 2014
5. Maverick County Courthouse Marker (NW corner view)
Credits. This page was last revised on December 14, 2017. It was originally submitted on December 13, 2017, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 254 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on December 13, 2017, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
