The Old Courthouse

The Old Courthouse. . For more than 60 years, Rockport’s skyline was dominated by an imposing, three-story Moorish-inspired courthouse. It was the first major building designed by J. Riely Gordon, who would become one of Texas’ most famous architects. Born in Virginia in 1863, Gordon moved with his family to San Antonio in 1874, where he started his career. He subsequently designed 18 Texas courthouses, 12 of which are still standing. His unique Aransas County Courthouse was demolished in 1955., Constructed from shellcrete in 1889, Gordon’s courthouse featured multiple arched windows and a teardrop dome. The building included a basement and towered over the two-story jail, windmill, and other nearby structures. During World War II, Rockport citizens used the cupola to look for enemy planes., The first county judge to preside in the courthouse was Paul Phelan Court. In 1893, the county erected a spiked wrought iron fence around the building to keep out roaming livestock. Four sets of iron steps, each opposite an entrance to the building, provided access over the fence. Later, a brick foundation was added under the fence., The majestic courthouse did not survive the modernization movement of the early 1950s. Its furnishings were sold at auction, and the shellcrete walls became riprap to protect the shoreline. Gordon’s beautiful building stood on Live Oak between Mimosa and Concho streets, replaced in 1956 by the modern, single-story Aransas County Courthouse.