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Sunday Speaker Series: Restoration of the 1886 Hidalgo County Courthouse

August 6, 2017 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Many residents in Hidalgo County may be familiar with the current courthouse located on the city of Edinburg’s downtown square, but the original courthouse was located near the Rio Grande in Hidalgo, Texas. The courthouse was a two-story building, made with local brick, designed and built by S. W. Brooks. The building was abandoned after voters approved moving the county seat to Chapin, later known as Edinburg. In January 1920, structural damage done by a fire required removal of the second floor, roof tower, cupola and woodwork. In April 1963, it received a medallion, which made the building the 671st historical building in Texas and the first in Hidalgo County. In 1981, Border Bank purchased the building from the Samano family, and shortly after that restoration plans were launched to preserve the building. The courthouse was restored to nearly the condition it had been in during the 1890s, except for the missing second floor and cupola.

Vela is a registered Architect in the State of Texas and currently the Architect of record for the Restoration of the 1886 Hidalgo County Courthouse. Currently the courthouse is owned by the City of Hidalgo and is being restored under the supervision of the Texas Historical Commission. The current construction involves the reconstruction of the second floor, the cupola, the missing character defining features of the building lost during the fire on Jan. 18, 1920.

Sunday Speakers Series is included in the fee for regular museum admission. FRIENDS of the Museum are admitted free as a benefit of FRIENDship.

This program is made possible with generous support from the Carmen C. Guerra Endowment. Mrs. Guerra was deeply committed to supporting educational opportunities in the Rio Grande Valley. This named endowment was created at the museum by her family to honor her memory and to continue her commitment to providing opportunities for education to the community.

Details

Date:
August 6, 2017
Time:
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Venue

Museum of South Texas History
200 N Closner Blvd
Edinburg, 78541 United States
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Phone
956-383-6911
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