Third County Courthouse, Site of

Young County was organized in 1856 with Belknap designated as county seat. After retreat of frontier troops during Civil War, county records were moved to Jacksboro 1865 during renewed Indian trouble. County was reorganized 1874 with Graham, county seat. Courthouse (of which only archway remains) was built 1884. Native sandstone for the two-story structure was quarried east of Graham by Irish workers. N. J. Rosenquist, a native of Sweden and builder of Texas courthouses, was chief stonemason. Building had two halls in form of Greek cross--a plan that followed points of the compass. (Archway belonged to east hall.) Officials at the time of construction were: County Judge, R. F.Arnold; Treasurer, J. W. Wadley; County Clerk, C. O. Joline; Tax Assessor, J. G. Hill; County Attorney, J. A. Woolfolk; Sheriff, W. T. Bunger; County Commissioners, W. C. Blakey, J. J. Hughes, J. . Mercer and H. D. Williams. Courthouse was razed in 1932 after completion of present structure. A. A. Morrison, fire marshal, led efforts to preserve historic archway during street improvements in 1936. During its existence, this Courthouse witnessed and preserved the records of many historic events of Young County.

Third County Courthouse, Site of is a historical marker in Graham, Young County, dedicated in 1969. It is one of 43 historical markers documented in Young County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 49 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 33.1072, -98.5905 near Graham. The nearest cataloged historic site is 1890 Bank Building (historical marker), about under a tenth of a mile away. Others within a short drive include Ryus Store Building, Young County Courthouse, and First National Bank in Graham.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5503004899. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.