By: Nelson S.R. No. 1246
1-1 SENATE RESOLUTION
1-2 WHEREAS, The citizens of Waxahachie and Ellis County are
1-3 celebrating the centennial of the magnificent Ellis County
1-4 Courthouse on July 4, 1995; and
1-5 WHEREAS, The fantastic grey and pink granite, marble, and
1-6 red sandstone Victorian structure was dedicated on July 4, 1895,
1-7 at a cost of $175,000, an exorbitant sum at the turn of the century;
1-8 it has become the most photographed courthouse in Texas; and
1-9 WHEREAS, Although the courthouse was steeped in controversy
1-10 and litigation from planning to completion, the laying of the
1-11 cornerstone was surrounded by much pomp and ceremony as thousands
1-12 of county residents attended the festivities and helped themselves
1-13 to the barbecue picnic that followed; and
1-14 WHEREAS, Waxahachie was listed as the 10th largest city in
1-15 Texas in 1896, and the courthouse was erected in direct response
1-16 to the growing populations in Ellis County and Waxahachie; and
1-17 WHEREAS, The original building contract was let to
1-18 Otto P. Kroeger of San Antonio on November 3, 1894, and actual
1-19 work began in March of 1895; architect J. Reilly Gordon of
1-20 San Antonio described the plans for the 34-room building as
1-21 "peculiar, being neither round or square, with each room in the
1-22 building either a rectangle or semicircle"; it is one of the
1-23 outstanding Romanesque and Victorian designs by the architect; and
2-1 WHEREAS, The massive structure required 160 railroad cars of
2-2 Texas granite, 100 cars of Pecos red sandstone, 14 car loads of
2-3 iron, and two million bricks; Italian artisans were imported to
2-4 carve the intricate carvings which cover the facade; and
2-5 WHEREAS, One of the stonecutters, Harry Herley, carved the
2-6 classic features of a young Waxahachie girl, Mabel Frame, over
2-7 the east entry; legend says she captured not only his attention
2-8 but also his affection and when his attentions were spurned, he
2-9 carved increasingly unattractive gargoyles in the arches above the
2-10 other three entrances; and
2-11 WHEREAS, Nine stories above the city, the clock tower is a
2-12 familiar sight to passersby who check one of the four clock faces
2-13 for the correct time; a 250-pound bell is struck by a hammer to
2-14 sound out each hour of the day; and
2-15 WHEREAS, The grand old lady is showing her age but she
2-16 continues to serve her county a century after she was built; she
2-17 embodies the grandeur of an earlier age and retains the beauty and
2-18 charm that was built into the structure by expert hands of men
2-19 who took pride in their labors; and
2-20 WHEREAS, The Texas Senate is pleased to join the citizens of
2-21 Ellis County as they pay tribute to the historic Ellis County
2-22 Courthouse on the occasion of her 100th birthday; now, therefore,
2-23 be it
2-24 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
2-25 74th Legislature, hereby express its admiration for the citizens
3-1 of Ellis County and extend best wishes to them for a most enjoyable
3-2 July 4, 1995, celebration of the 100th anniversary of the
3-3 Ellis County Courthouse; and, be it further
3-4 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
3-5 "The Party of the Century" as a memento of this joyous event.
3-6 ______________________________________
3-7 President of the Senate
3-8 I hereby certify that the above
3-9 Resolution was adopted by the Senate
3-10 on May 26, 1995.
3-11 ______________________________________
3-12 Secretary of the Senate
3-13 ______________________________________
3-14 Member, Texas Senate