Hill County Courthouse
Completion date: 1890
County seat: Hillsboro
Style: Second Empire
Architect: W. C. Dodson
Why was the Hill County courthouse the site of a Willie Nelson concert in
1993? Like many Other residents, Country-music Legend Willie Nelson was deeply
Saddened when the courthouse suffered severe damage from a fire probably caused by
faulty wiring on January 1, 1993. The courthouse received statewide attention because television
images of the collapsing clock tower and charred remains horrified Texans across the state.
Nelson was so moved by the destruction that he held a benefit concert called "Blaze to Glory" on the
courthouse lawn. Audience members enjoyed Nelson classics and a spectacular
light show. Architecture
The Hill County courthouse was built in 1890 and designed by Wesley Clark Dodson. This building
is made of rusticated limestone. It includes four identical, five-bay facades with elegant columns.
Its symmetrical structure, central pavilion and mansard or steep vertical roof make it
a Second Empire structure. The Hill County courthouse is an important attraction to the area's leading
industry, tourism. Restoration
The 1993 fire placed the courthouse on "Texas's 10
Most Endangered Historical Places" list. The courthouse has under
gone a complete restoration, which included restoring the overall structures,
clock tower, stonework, roof, windows, doors, floors, drainage system, railings
and exterior lighting. Preventing future courthouse fires is one of
several reasons to preserve Texas' courthouses.
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