Mount Vernon in Franklin County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Franklin County Courthouse
In 1910 county commissioners ordered an election to decide the building of a new courthouse and jail. The commissioners' court then rescinded that order, called for construction warrants to be issued without election, and levied a property tax to pay for the new buildings. Citizens filed suit against the county, and in January, 1911, the district court prevented construction from proceeding.
An appellate court overturned the decision and by December, 1911, the Texas Supreme Court had affirmed this method of financing county buildings. Within days of the landmark decision, Franklin County commissioners awarded a contract to L. R. Wright & Co. to construct this courthouse and adjacent jail. The buildings were completed in 1912 at a cost of $55,000.
Erected 1986 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 9842.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings.
Location. 33° 11.367′ N, 95° 13.284′ W. Marker is in Mount Vernon, Texas, in Franklin County. Marker is at the intersection of North Kaufman Street (Texas Route 37) and Dallas Street, on the right when traveling north on North Kaufman Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 200 N Kaufman Street, Mount Vernon TX 75457, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Site of the Merchants and Planters National Bank (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Rutherford Drugstore (about 300 feet away); The Wright-Vaughan House (approx. 0.2 miles away); First Baptist Church of Mount Vernon (approx. ¼ mile away); First United Methodist Church of Mount Vernon (approx. 0.3 miles away); Joshua Foster Johnson (approx. half a mile away); Franklin County (approx. 0.8 miles away); Historic Roadside Park (approx. 2.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mount Vernon.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 15, 2023, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. This page has been viewed 59 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 15, 2023, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.