TITLE: Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Sherman County Courthouse.

SUMMARY: Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Sherman County Courthouse.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Proud area residents are marking the 100th anniversary of the Sherman County Courthouse with a special centennial celebration on April 18, 2023; and WHEREAS, Sherman County is located in the High Plains region of the northern Panhandle on the Oklahoma border, and it extends across 923 square miles of nearly level land covered in prairie grasses, sagebrush, and yucca; named after Sidney Sherman, a veteran of the Texas Revolution, the county was established by the Texas Legislature in 1876 from lands formerly assigned to Bexar County, and it was attached to Oldham County for administrative purposes until 1889, when it was officially organized; and WHEREAS, The town of Coldwater was designated as the county seat in 1890, and later that year, a one-story stone courthouse was built in the small settlement to serve the county's 34 residents; the county seat was subsequently moved to Stratford, which is located 80 miles north of Amarillo in the northwestern part of the county; a two-story frame courthouse was erected there in 1901; that structure was destroyed by a fire in 1922, and plans were soon underway for the present-day facility; the Amarillo-based architectural firm of Parker & Rittenberry was chosen to design the new building, and under the leadership of contractor J. W. Mordecai, construction was completed in 1923; and WHEREAS, The three-story concrete and brick courthouse is a fine example of classical revival style, featuring raised basements, symmetrical facades, and ionic columns; the exterior is composed of running bond brick and cast stone detailing; in 2008, the building was recognized by the Texas Historical Commission as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark; the centennial celebration on April 18 is taking place on the courthouse lawn, and it will include speakers, flag presentations, and performances by Stratford and Texhoma students; and WHEREAS, Nearing the county seat of Stratford, a sign proclaims, "The Home of God, Grass, and Grit," reflecting the strength and determination of Sherman County's citizens, who have suffered many storms and droughts over the years, including the Dust Bowl of the 1930s; today, nothing remains of Coldwater, the original county seat, except for a tiny cemetery; according to the 2020 U.S. census, the county is home to nearly 3,000 residents; notable communities include Stratford as well as Texhoma, which straddles the Texas-Oklahoma border; the area's soils are dark and loamy, with clayey subsoils that are rich in hardened calcium deposits, and the county's economy is primarily agriculturally based; many of its residents grow crops and raise livestock that help feed our nation and the world; and WHEREAS, For more than a century, the Sherman County Courthouse has stood as a symbol of the resilience of the people of Sherman County, and it is a pleasure to join in celebrating the important role it has played in the community; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas Legislature hereby commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Sherman County Courthouse and commend all those associated with the centennial celebrations for their noteworthy efforts. Price Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 985 was adopted by the House on April 20, 2023, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House