Comal County Courthouse, Romanesque Revival courthouse in New Braunfels, United States
Comal County Courthouse is a three-story Romanesque Revival building designed by James Riely Gordon and completed in 1898 by contractors Fischer and Lamie. It is topped by a corniced stone tower.
The building was erected in 1898 to serve the community and replaced an earlier structure from 1860 that had deteriorated significantly. This new construction marked a period of growth and development for the region.
The courthouse's cultural life lies in its German-Texan story: architect James Riely Gordon won the commission after county commissioners travelled to Gonzales to inspect his 1896 courthouse there. The building is a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark (1993) and was listed on the National Register in 1976.
The building sits in the town center and can be viewed from the outside to appreciate its stone facade and tower. The best time to explore the surroundings is on quieter days when public areas are easily accessible.
The county commissioners travelled to Gonzales to inspect James Riely Gordon's 1896 Gonzales County Courthouse before awarding him this commission. His 1898 building replaced Wilhelm Thielepape's courthouse of about 1860, which had deteriorated by the late 1890s. A three-year, $8.7 million restoration finished in 2013 removed two later additions and replicated original paint, tile, doors and furniture.
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