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17 As the following pages will reveal, many of the gracious old homes built between 1845 and 1926 are still in excellent condition today. Their longevity can be attributed to the fact that the frame homes were built of cypress lumber, which rarely rots and is almost never affected by termites. Many of the brick homes were constructed of bricks manufactured at the Sunset Brick and Tile Company, which operated in Gonzales from 1889 to 1972. The interior woodwork in these homes was constructed from hardwoods such as oak, walnut, ash, maple and longleaf pine. Much of this beautiful woodwork was handcrafted by talented traveling German artisans who came to Gonzales and lived with the families they worked for. Although Gonzales is blessed with an unusual number of historic homes that are being well cared for, there are many more waiting for someone with vision to reclaim them. This book provides information on many of these houses and the families that built them. The community is indeed fortunate that the pioneer spirit of the early settlers is still alive today. Descendants of a number of the pioneer families continue to live in Gonzales and are as highly respected as their ancestors. GONZALES COUNTY COURTHOUSE The Gonzales County Courthouse, built in 1896, is located on the central point of the seven squares of the City of Gonzales. Designed by architect J. Riely Gordon in Romanesque Revival style with eclectic details, it was built with red brick and a white limestone trim. The brick came from St. Louis and the limestone was cut from a nearby quarry owned by Firmin Maurin who in 1895 was hired as superintendent for construction of the courthouse. The structure cost $64,450 at its completion in 1896. It was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1966 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in Gonzales County, Texas in 1972.

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