This was our one hundred-seventy-seventh Courthouse in Texas to visit. That means we are at 69.7% of our goal with 30.3% left to go.

The Texas Historical Commission description states: “Most attribute its design to San Antonio architect Alfred Giles. However, it is more likely that Henri E. M. Guindon [sic] is the architect.”

Another entry on the THC website states: “plans were sold to Caldwell County during [a] brief period when Guidon did not work with Giles, same plans subsequently sold to Goliad shortly after Guidon rejoined Giles practice, Giles later ads claimed both Caldwell and Goliad as his.”

The three story building is constructed mainly from “Muldoon Blue” sandstone quarried in Fayette County. The popular stone was used in many other courthouses and churches across Texas.

Until its recent total restoration the building only went through minor repairs and improvements. In 1969 the building received air conditioning and had an elevator installed. In 1977 the district courtroom was converted to office space, with the then-popular plastic paneling and a dropped ceiling. The following year downspouts were replaced, windows and doors were repaired and the stonework was repointed.

For many years the color scheme was “cream and green.” The nearby H.E.B. grocery matched the colors at the request of Lockhart’s City Council. The original colors were brought back during the recent restoration.