Van Zandt County Courthouse
Introduction
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Th Van Zandt County Courthouse was built in 1937 and is a fine example of Art Deco and Moderne architecture.
Backstory and Context
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The courthouse is the seventh one for the county. The first was built in 1848 when the county was established but was soon replaced by the second one in 1850. The sixth courthouse was built in 1896 and was known as "Big Red" and featured a copper eagle at the top. It was used for four decades until it became clear that a new, larger, and more efficiently designed courthouse was needed (the sixth one had large spaces not designed for official use).
The county chose architecture firm Voelcker and Dixon to design the new building. The federal government provided the funds for the project through its public works programs, which created jobs for Americans during the Great Depression. The courthouse features an Ozark gray marble facade, tall vertical windows, and several Moderne and Art Deco details.
Sources
Allen, Elvis. "Van Zandt County Courthouse." Accessed October 21, 2020. http://www.texasescapes.com/TOWNS/Canton/VanZandtCountyCourthouseCantonTexas.htm.
"Van Zandt County Courthouse." The Historical Marker Database. Accessed October 21, 2020. https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=54055.
Larry D. Moore, via Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vanzandt_courthouse_2010.jpg