The Bexar County Courthouse

            This courthouse occupies the south side of Main Plaza, formerly called “La Plaza De Las Islas”.  As originally laid out by the Canary Islanders in 1731.  As it was then, this plaza is the administrative and judicial heart of Bexar County.

            This is the fourth edifice to house the government of the county since Texas entered the United States.  The citizens authorized $621,000 worth of bonds in the 1890s to finance its construction.  James Riely Gordon (1863-1927), architect for many imposing public buildings, including at least one state capitol.  Submitted the award-winning Romanesque design for this courthouse.  The builders were George Dugan, David Houges and Otto p. Kroeger.  The foundation was laid in 1891, and the structure was completed in 1896.  Native Texas granite and red sandstone are basic materials of the massive building.  Towers roofed in green tile and red tile, handsome columns and arches, carvings, and many fine interiors details gave the edifice great distinction.

            Additions in 1914 and 1926 continued the use of Texas granite and sandstone.  Expansions in 1963, 1970, and 1973 employed other materials, however, and also altered portions of the original design.

(1976)

Bexar County Under Nine Governments

            The administrative government of Bexar County, besides being the oldest in Texas, is distinguished by having served under nine governments.

            The community served under Spanish rule from May 1718 until Januaryz 1811 when it was taken over by the revolutionary “Casas Regime.”  Only five weeks later the “Counter-Revolutionary Junta of Bexar” overthrew the Casas government and eventually restored Spanish rule.

            In April 1812, however the “Republican Army of the North” disposed the provincial Spanish government and declared independence from Spain.  Five months later the Spanish regained control, holding Texas until 1821.

            The Fifth Regime, “First Imperial Government of Mexico” was created when Mexico gained independence from Spain in 1812.  The emperor relinquished control to army leaders within two years, however, and the “Republic of Mexico” was established.

            Texas gained independence from Mexico in 1836, thereby establishing Bexar’s seventh government, the “Republic of Texas.”  In 1845, Texas became the twenty-eighth state of the United States and remained in the union until 1861 when the souther states seceded to form the confederacy following the Civil war.  U.S. rule returned to Bexar County in 1865.

(1967)

The Canary Islanders

            Earliest civilian colonists of San Antonio, this nucleus of pioneers from the Canary Islands formed the first organized civil government in Texas and founded the village of San Fernando De Bexar in 1731.

            Following a sea and land voyage of over a year, these weary travelers arrived at the Presidio (Fort) of San Antonio early on March 9, 1731.  Totaling 56 persons, they had emigrated to Texas from the Spanish Canary Islands near Africa by order of King Philip V.

            On July 2 they began to lay out a villa (village).  Choosing a site on the west side of the Plaza De Las Yslas (Present main plaza) for the church and a site on the east side for the Case Real (government building).  On July 19 the captain of the Presidio, Juan Antonio De Almazan read to the islanders the decree of the Viceroy naming them and their descendants “Hijos Dalgo”—Persons of Nobility.

            The heads of the 16 families who settled in San Antonio were: Juan Leal Goraz, Juan Curbelo, Juan Leal, Antonio Santos, Jose Padron, Manuel De Nis, Vicente Alvarez Travieso, Salvador Rodriguez, Jose Leal, Juan Delgado, Jose Cabrera, Juan Rodriguez Granadillo, Francisco De Arocha, Antonio Rodriguez, Lorenzo and Martin De Armas, and Felipe and Jose Antonio Perez.

(1971)

Original Cost of Construction: $100,000

Original Architect: James Riely Gordon

The Bexar County Courthouse is the largest and oldest continuously operated historic courthouse in Texas. Designed by renowned architect, James Riely Gordon, its cornerstone was laid in 1892 and construction was completed in 1897. It was the fifth seat of government in Bexar County, the first four having been ruled by a succession of governments and political entities including Spain, Mexico, The Republic of Texas, The Confederate States of America, and the United States. Each of the four predecessor buildings were located within two blocks of the existing historic courthouse, in the heart of downtown San Antonio.

James Riely Gordon, Architect

James Riely Gordon (1863-1927) was born in Virginia and later moved to San Antonio. During his 20 year career in Texas, Gordon designed 13 other courthouses through out the state. He later moved to New York, where he continued his distinguished career and served thirteen consecutive terms as the President of the New York Society of Architects.