Nacogdoches County Courthouse Number 2
The Stone Fort courthouse was succeeded by a building located on the corner of North and Hospital Streets originally built to house a church. This second courthouse was utilized from 1840 to 1847 when it was sold to the county and moved to the center of the Plaza Principal in the center of downtown. It was a two-story square wood frame structure facing north. The main door had a platform landing on the outside with steps leading to it on the east and west. By 1850 most townspeople were aware that this building was in such disrepair that inclement weather would force the court to adjourn. This occurred so often that the editor of the town’s weekly newspaper commented that the needed repairs would soon pay for themselves in time saved by the court. Enough repairs were made so that the wind and rain were kept out; still, the building had no stove or fireplace, and cold weather continually forced the court to move to warmer quarters.
No pictures of this courthouse have been found. If you have a picture or know where one can be found, please call Carol Moon at 936-560-7755.
Historic courthouse information from Joe E. Ericson, Carolyn Reeves Ericson, Archie McDonald, and James G. Partin. Mr. & Mrs. Charles Bright, Hope Skipper, Ruth Pochmann, and Bob Murphey. Pictures of the Courthouses were provided by East Texas Research Center, Ralph Steen Library Special Collections