If
there’s one thing Texas can be proud of it’s its county
courthouses. This is the third one to serve Goliad
County, and it has seen better days. Early photographs
show it’s clock tower and turrets. These were removed
after being severely damaged in a hurricane in 1942.
There
are reports that plans are being made to
replace the tower and turrets, but no firm dates have
been set. An addition was put on the building in 1964,
further compromising its architectural majesty. Unlike
other parts of Texas which have existed under six
governments, Goliad is one of the few places to have
been ruled by nine governments, and the nine flags
are prominently displayed around the town and around
the courthouse. The courthouse is also surrounded
by gnarled old oak trees. While these are pretty and
historically significant, it makes photographing the
courthouse very difficult without resorting to climbing
on top of another building.
Outside is a plaque reading:
"Goliad
Tornado of 1902 A Cyclone considered one of the
two most disastrous in Texas history, struck Goliad
on Sunday, May 18, 1902. The twister touched down
on the south side of the San Antonio River at 3:35
p.m. Sounding like a heavily loaded freight train,
the storm ripped a mile long, half-mile wide path
across the northwest section of town, destroying
over 100 homes and leaving an official death toll
of 114. At least 50 members of a black Methodist
church died when their sanctuary was razed. After
the disaster, the Goliad County Courthouse served
as a temporary hospital and morgue. (1978)"
1976
- Goliad County Courthouse named a Texas Historic
Landmark.
