Human history's a fleeting thing
Though we feel permanent in the now
Gone in a flash of days or years
Are thing that were once, "Holy Cow!"
At least some of the notes are written down
And some of those posted to see
So the wandering interested soul
Can get a taste of the past Bell County.
Started out as an Anvil, eh? that's kinda cool.
According to available information: Bell County Has Had three courthouses: 1851, 1858 and 1884
The courthouse in front of you is designed in the Renaissance Revival style in 1884. Built before the current State Capital, this is arguably one of Texas' finest courthouses in a collection of outstanding public buildings. Despite progressive 'updates' of the 30s & 50s. In a fit of modernization zeal, the clock tower and much of the rich roof details were removed, and the historic interior was modernized and radically altered. A complete restoration of the Courthouse was begun in August 1998 and the interior renovation was completed in November 1999. The statue, dome, and clock tower were replaced with replicas in December 1999, returning the Courthouse to near its original beauty. The same construction firm that finished off the clock tower for Cameron's Milam County Courthouse did this job. Modern lightweight materials now allow many courthouses to appear the way their architects intended.
The current Courthouse is on the National Register of Historic Buildings and on the State Archeological Site Register. [sources: "Courthouse History" (
visit link) and BELL COUNTY COURTHOUSE
(
visit link) ]
Belton is a little different from other County Seats, in that it hasn't the dominant population in the County. A possibly 'partial' source goes on to contend that, however, Belton's 14,500 are quite happy where they are and with Temple's 50,000 being where they are. (http://www.texasescapes.com/TOWNS/Belton_Texas/Bell-County-Courthouse-Belton-Texas.htm)
tacking on a little county history:
COUNTY HISTORY (http://www.bellcountytx.com/history.htm)
Bell County was created from Milam County just five years after Texas entered the Union. County Commissioners chose a county seat on the banks of Nolan Creek and named it Nolandsville. Two years later, January 12, 1852, the town's name became Belton and it was incorporated.
Belton's first settlers built houses, stores, saloons, and a hotel and prospered until the Civil War when they lined up behind the South. When things went bad for the South, Belton also experienced tough times. By the 1880s, Belton had recovered from the war and began to flourish once again. It was the largest town in Bell County and had a brisk economy. Belton would have become a boom town if it had a railroad, but it only reached its doorstep as the Santa Fe Railroad crossed the county line on the eastern edge near Rogers.
During the mid to late 1860s, the Chisholm Trail cut through central Bell County along a route between the present day cities of Belton and Salado. The 1860's also saw the establishment of the female religious commune known as the True Church Colony which flourished until about 1900.
Between 1877 and 1915, ten railroads considered placing tracks through Bell County, but only two companies actually came to the area. At a time when railroads made and broke rural communities, the acquisition of a railroad was important. The Missouri, Kansas, and Texas Railroad, known as the Katy, went through Belton, while the Gulf, Colorado, and Santa Fe Railroad, known as the Santa Fe, established a new town just north of Belton, known as Temple.
To provide the railroad employees with health care, Santa Fe hospital became the city's first hospital in 1891. Then in 1896, King's Daughters Hospital was established. Temple Sanitarium began in 1897 and later evolved into Scott & White. In 1983, Santa Fe combined with Scott & White.
The first woman elected as governor in the United States was Miriam Amanda Wallace Ferguson. Ms. Ferguson was born near Little River and she served from 1925-1927 and 1933-1935. Her husband, James Edward Ferguson was born near Salado and elected as governor from 1915-1917.
Alvin Ailey, the founder of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is a native of Rogers