McCulloch County Courthouse
Why it's listed
Dominating the public square in Brady, the McCulloch County Courthouse is a three-story building of cream-colored native sandstone, designed in a modified Romanesque style on a cross-axial plan. Martin and Moodie of Comanche, representing the "Turn Key" Construction Company, won the contract in June 1899 with a bid of $33,000, after the county commissioners adopted their plans and specifications. The firm also agreed to dig a well, erect a windmill and tank, and furnish a granite cornerstone. Twin turrets flank the arched north and south entrances, while the east and west entrances sit in projecting pavilions with triangular pediments. A low square tower with corner turrets rises above. Inside, arched vaults, original wainscoting and stair railings survive. A clock was added in 1922, and two one-story additions exist. The building replaced a courthouse of 1879 and remains in county use. It was listed for local architectural significance as the finest Romanesque Revival example in the area.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues local architectural significance. Although restrained in detail, it is described as the finest example of the Romanesque Revival style and the most outstanding nineteenth-century structure in the vicinity.
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 77001515, listed December 16, 1977. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Public Sq., Brady |
|---|---|
| County | McCulloch County |
| Listed | December 16, 1977 |
| Reference number | 77001515 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1899-1900 |
| Architect / builder | Martin and Moodie |
| Architectural style | Modified Romanesque (Romanesque Revival) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Good state of preservation; still serves its original function as the county courthouse, with two one-story additions. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 31.13519, -99.33484 (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 77001515.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6800756
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.