Standing proud and tall in the center of Wise County is its grandest structure of all - the 111-year-old Wise County Courthouse in Decatur.

The courthouse was constructed in 1896 of pink granite. J. Riley Gordon of New York was the architect.

Today it remains a distinctive landmark in the county. Gordon’s design has been praised as architecturally perfect by noted experts of buildings of this type. The structure has been awarded a historical medallion and plaque from the Texas Historical Commission and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The origins of the courthouse began Jan. 8, 1895, during a special meeting of the county commissioners.

The meeting was called after a fire gutted the previous courthouse. Gordon was chosen as the architect in March 1895.

An election was held in February 1895 to determine whether the courthouse should be moved. Decatur won the right to keep the courthouse with 2,200 votes, followed by Bridgeport with 1,355.

J.A. White was awarded the contract to build the courthouse in May 1895.

Construction began in June and was to be completed in May of the following year.

It appeared that construction ran a little behind schedule, and the building was not completed until late 1896.

The courthouse was officially received by the commissioners in January 1897.