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AUSTIN – The Texas Historical Commission (THC) awarded Donley County an Honor Award through its Texas Courthouse Stewardship Program last week for establishing excellent stewardship practices in maintaining its restored historic courthouse.

The award was announced at the two-day Texas Courthouse Stewardship Workshop held in Austin. Both the workshop and the award were made possible through a generous grant from the Texas Land Title Association (TLTA).

“In addition to bringing recognition to Donley County, the award is an incentive to other counties with newly restored courthouses to develop a maintenance plan, secure adequate funding for maintenance, and assure quality workmanship,” said Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program Director Sharon Fleming.

The unique Romanesque Revival courthouse, surrounded by brick-paved streets, has served as the center for community life in the Panhandle town of Clarendon for more than 120 years. Designed by architects C.H. Bulger and Isaac Hamilton Rapp of Colorado, the original courthouse was built for $28,500. Construction started in 1890, and the building opened in 1891.

In 1937, the entire third floor of the courthouse was removed, and the second floor deemed unusable due to leaks and bat infestation. With the Texas Legislature’s 1999 funding support for the THC’s Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program, a master plan for a full restoration of the courthouse was submitted by Donley County Judge Jack Hall in 2000, and a $3.1 million grant was awarded to the county in Round I. Restoration was completed in 2003 at a final cost of $4.2 million paid for by state funds as well as local funds and donations.

Donley County officials earned recognition for the courthouse with a National Register of Historic Places listing in 1978, and designation as a Texas State Archeological Landmark in 1981. It became a Registered Texas Historic Landmark in 2006.

Judge Hall has attended three Stewardship Workshops since 2007 in an ongoing effort to keep the courthouse in good repair, accompanied by maintenance technician Elias Jaramillo. The Donley County Commissioners’ Court continues to fund projects to maintain the courthouse, including recent window repairs and replacement of a chiller.

The Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program was established in 1999 to restore Texas’ county courthouses to their original splendor and make them safe, functional, and a source of pride for Texas communities. The THC created and administers the award-winning program, which has generated more than 10,000 jobs and more than $269 million in local income. For more information, contact the THC’s Architecture Division at 512.463.6094 or visit www.thc.state.tx.us.