The original Cameron County Courthouse, also known as the Rio Grande Masonic Lodge No. 81, is an historic building located at 1131 East Jefferson Street in Brownsville, Texas. It was designed by architect J. N. Preston in the Second Empire style of architecture. Built between 1882 and 1883 by S. W. Brooks as the first court house of Cameron County, it served as such until 1914 when the 1912 courthouse was completed. It was sold in 1914 to Rio Grande Lodge No. 81, A.F.&A.M., chartered in 1851, which still occupies it along with several appendant Masonic bodies. Its central clock tower and elaborate gabled roof were destroyed in the Labor Day 1933 hurricane and replaced by a flat roof. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]
| Cameron County Courthouse (1882) | |
|---|---|
 1882 Cameron County Courthouse | |
| Location | Brownsville, Texas |
| Coordinates | 25°54′12″N 97°29′46″W / 25.90324°N 97.49605°W |
| Built | 1883 |
| Architect | J. N. Preston |
| Architectural style(s) | Second Empire |
| Governing body | Rio Grande Lodge No. 81, A.F.&A.M |
| Designated | 1962 |
| Reference no. | 640 |
  Location of Cameron County Courthouse (1882) in Texas  Cameron County Courthouse (1882) (the United States) | |
See also
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References
edit- ^ "Cameron County Historical Commission: The Story of Cameron County Courthouses by Norman Rozeff, May 2006, updated September 2010" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-07-26.
- ^ "Grand Lodge of Texas, A.F.&A.M., lodge locator". Archived from the original on 2010-11-26. Retrieved 2010-12-04.
- ^ "Texas Escapes listing for Cameron County Courthouse, which has pictures of the building with and without the clock tower". Archived from the original on 2011-05-20. Retrieved 2010-12-04.
- ^ "Texas Courthouse Trail image of Brownsville Heritage Trail plaque". Archived from the original on 2010-11-30. Retrieved 2010-12-05.
- ^ "Texas Courthouse Trail image of Texas State Historical plaque". Archived from the original on 2010-11-30. Retrieved 2010-12-05.
- ^ "Text of Texas State Historical Marker on the site". Archived from the original on 2012-03-14. Retrieved 2010-12-04.