Denton shows love for ionic courthouse on Preservation Day

by Courtney Garza of North Texas Daily

That love could earn preservation funds for the building from the state.

Photo by Whitney Rogers, Intern at North Texas Daily

The Denton courthouse, built in 1896, is only one of the 254 courthouses located in Texas.

DENTON — The "I Love Texas Courthouses" campaign uses the romantic month of February to highlight the state’s collection of historic county courthouses and to bring awareness of their importance to the culture of Texas. The campaign’s goal is to get 2,000 signatures on their “love letter” to bring to the steps of Austin today for Preservation Day.

Texas has more historic courthouses than any other state, with 235 still in active use and 139 of those are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. As landmarks for many aspects of community, the campaign feels it’s important to keep these buildings well preserved.

In this campaign the National Trust is working with the Texas Historical Commission, Preservation Texas and local partners to focus on the need for funding to save and preserve the state’s collection of historic courthouses, such as Denton’s own iconic courthouse on the Square.

Associate director and “homesick Texan” of the National Trust for Historical Preservation in Washington, D.C., Jason Clement said these grand structures help tell the story of the Lone Star State, which is why preserving them for future generations is so important.

“February is all about love. We launched this campaign because we think Valentine’s Day shouldn’t just be about people,” Clement said. “The beautiful historic buildings that define the places where we live deserve some love, too, and Texas courthouses certainly fall into that category.”

The movement invited people around Texas to share their love for their courthouses on the register’s website in three ways: signing the love letter to achieve 2,000 signatures, uploading a photo of friends or family with the local courthouse, or sharing memories with the courthouse.

Denton County Historical Commission member Veronica Maldonado shared her photo and reason why she loves Denton’s courthouse on the ilovetexascourthouses.com website by stating that it’s Denton’s favorite “character” on the Square.

“The people of Denton are proud of the Courthouse on the Square, as it’s used as the image of Denton,” Maldonado said. “Its beauty just draws you in and you want to know more about it, as so many memories have taken place there.”

The members of Denton’s Chamber headed to Austin with their hearts set on keeping the landmark alive and well, taking their love letters and signatures to show just how many Texans want to keep the funding for their courthouses.

“The courthouse is known as the ‘living room of Denton’ where so many people come together and connect as a community,” Denton County Historical Commission chairwoman Beth Stribling said. “With the legislation in session now, this couldn’t be a better time to make a statement.”