Glasscock County Courthouse and Jail
Why it's listed
Garden City's public square holds three historic buildings tied to Glasscock County's government and community life. The two-story Old Courthouse and Jail, built in 1894, is a small limestone building with corbelled parapets and segmented stone arches in a restrained Italianate manner. The 1910 courthouse, also of local limestone, has the form of a Greek temple, with pedimented porticos and Doric columns on all four sides. Edward C. Hosford is the architect of record, though records show Dallas architect Leslie L. Thurmon signed the contract documents on his behalf. A 1937 Boy Scout House of wood and boulder stone reflects the Rustic style. The 1910 courthouse is still used for county offices and courts, though later remodeling covered many interior finishes and replaced windows. The buildings are described as in good condition but needing restoration. They are recognized for their role in local government and social history and for their architecture.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues local significance under Criterion A for Politics/Government and Social History, and under Criterion C for Architecture. The buildings show the county's governmental development and three distinct architectural approaches: minimal Italianate, Classical Revival, and Rustic.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 11000129, listed March 21, 2011. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 117 E Currie St, Garden City |
|---|---|
| County | Glasscock County |
| Listed | March 21, 2011 |
| Reference number | 11000129 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Edward C. Hosford (architect of record, 1910 courthouse, with Leslie L. Thurmon of Dallas involved in the design); Mutual Construction Company of Louisville, Kentucky (general contractor, 1910 courthouse) |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian: Italianate; Late 19th and Early 20th Century Revivals: Classical Revival; Late 19th and Early 20th Century American Movements: Rustic |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Politics/Government, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Buildings are described as in good condition but in need of restoration. The 1910 courthouse remains in use as a courthouse, and the Boy Scout building remains in use as a clubhouse. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 31.86531, -101.48077 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 11000129.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5567144
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.