Donley courthouse turns 125 this year

The Donley County Courthouse is turning 125 years old this year, and officials are taking steps to make sure the Jewel of the Plains is in tip top shape.
Twenty-four trees were planted on the Courthouse Square Saturday, replacing some trees that have died and planning for future shade on the west side of the square.
County Judge John Howard said lace bark elm trees were chosen for the east side of the courthouse for their hardiness and quick growth and that red oaks were placed behind the building.
The county is taking care not to obstruct the main views of the 1890 Romanesque Revival building.
During their regular meeting last Monday, April 13, commissioners discussed maintenance issues facing the courthouse house, including plaster repair near the round window on the building’s east façade, grip sealant for the courthouse steps, and expanded electrical capacity for the annual courthouse Christmas lighting.
Howard said Commissioner Dan Sawyer will work with electrical contractors on a proposal to add electrical outlets on the back of floodlights on the square.
Commissioners also approved allowing Trane to conduct an energy audit of the courthouse and other county facilities to determine if mechanical upgrades might pay for themselves through costs savings.
The county is also planning on purchasing 125th anniversary banners for light poles on the square and will be ordering patriotic bunting to go in the arches of the courthouse’s main entrance.
Howard said the commissioners’ court is committed to taking care of the courthouse and making sure it lasts for another 125 years.
Construction on the Donley County Courthouse began in 1890 and the building was opened the next year after a cost of $35,000. In 2003, the county, with state aid, donations and tax dollars, completed a full restoration of the building at a cost of $4.2 million. Today, the building is the oldest functioning courthouse in the Texas Panhandle.