County Courthouse

Photo: El Paso County Courthouse 1886-1917 On January 20, 1886, the Commissioners Court accepted the courthouse as completed, and it was dedicated on February 15, with a dance held in the new building topping off the celebration. According to the plans, the building was to have a mixed architectural style with a predominating Renaissance influence. There were three floors - the first held county administrative offices, including those of the county surveyor, county judge, and the county attorney. The county court was located in the north west corner, occupying a space 40 x 20 feet. The west end of the second floor housed the 34th District Court in an area measuring about 65 x 40 feet. At the center of the second social life floor was a 20-square-foot opening through which light passed from the imposing dome located above the third floor. Since El Paso did not yet have a federal courthouse, the United States court and other federal offices were located on this floor. The building also contained offices for District Judge T. A. Falvey, the district attorney, the sheriff, and the tax collector. The jury room stood adjacent to the sheriff's office. All the ceilings were fifteen feet high, and the walnut staircases were six feet wide. The walls and hallways were made of pine and dark maple, and illumination was provided by gas light until electricity was installed in 1909. http://www.epcounty.com/history/courthouse.htm