Vintage Architectural Photograph of the Ellis County Courthouse in Waxahachie - North Texas is a photograph by Silvio Ligutti which was uploaded on August 25th, 2016.
Vintage Architectural Photograph of the Ellis County Courthouse in Waxahachie - North Texas
Constructed 1897... more
Title
Vintage Architectural Photograph of the Ellis County Courthouse in Waxahachie - North Texas
Artist
Silvio Ligutti
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
Constructed 1897
Architect J. Riely Gordon
Romanesque Revival Style
Designation National Register Listing - 1975
Texas Historic Landmark - 1969
My first stop on my way to Dallas from Houston. FAA watermark WILL NOT show on fine art print.
The Ellis County Courthouse was built from architectural plans created by J. Riely Gordon. The building incorporates the Richardsonian Romanesque architectural style originally created by Boston architect Henry Hobson Richardson and made popular in Texas by J. Riely Gordon.
For the Ellis County Courthouse Gordon used a floor-plan different from many other county courthouses in Texas of the same vintage. Many county courthouses built in this time period had intersecting halls on the first floor that created the rigidity required to support the weight of the district courtroom positioned near the middle of the building on the second floor. For the Ellis County Courthouse Gordon used a floor plan that provided an open space at the center of the building first surrounded by a staircase then surrounded by a gallery that provided access to offices and courtrooms. The large second-floor courtroom was pushed off to one side of the building so the center space was open all the way up to the clock tower. This open space at the center of the courthouse created a chimney effect. Cool air was drawn in through first floor windows toward the center of the building then straight up to the tower where hot air was exhausted out of the building.
Besides the advantage of superior ventilation, Gordon's design incorporated a circular form which worked well with the Romanesque Revival architectural style. Turrets containing spiral stairways and balconies incorporate readily with the circular form. The building is further enhanced by the use of stone of contrasting colors. From the building's base first gray and then pink granite are used. Red Pecos sandstone is used for accent, and cream colored sandstone is also used sparingly on a few string courses.
Uploaded
August 25th, 2016
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