In October 1895, builders set the original cornerstone of the Wise County Courthouse with hopes the building would outlast its fire-ravaged predecessors.
It’s still standing across three centuries.
Exactly 130 years after that stone was laid, the Wise County community will gather for a rededication ceremony, celebrating the completion of the project to bring back the courthouse’s original grandeur.
As of August, the project is nearly complete, with work revealing the courthouse’s interior beauty while outfitting the historic structure with modern updates to keep it functional for another century.
The work has been a tedious, evolving and detailed undertaking, and Wise County Judge J.D. Clark said he can’t wait for the public to see it.
“When you step back, this project has been about more than paint and plaster,” Clark said. “It’s about protecting history, honoring the craftsmanship of past generations, and preparing the courthouse to last another century. That’s why the October 23 rededication date is so meaningful — it’s exactly 130 years since the cornerstone was laid in 1895.”
During the ceremony, two streets on the square will be closed and lined with rows of chairs. Additional U.S. and Texas flags will be hung before businesses, and a large crowd of community members, officials and historians are expected to gather to see the courthouse as it was originally conceived by architect J. Riely Gordon, who also designed other historic courthouses across Texas.
After clearing the date with the Texas Historical Commission, Clark revealed ceremony plans last week while providing a sneak peak of the nearly 130-year-old building.
The courthouse is currently filled with contractors checking off the final stages of their work. Crews are installing lightning rods and completing improvements of the clocks on the tower, as specialists finish projects on each floor inside.
“We’re in the final phases. We’ve scheduled inspections with the state and city. At one point yesterday, nearly 40 people were working in here,” Clark said.
The restoration has peeled back decades of remodels to reveal long-hidden craftsmanship.
Inside the district courtroom, workers removed a dropped ceiling from the 1960s, uncovering the original, soaring design. The courtroom’s balcony seating is nearly completed, with room for around 5o on tiered seats.
Thanks to forgotten plans found in a closet, conservators were able to reconstruct a decorative arch erased more than half a century ago.
“[Decatur Fire Chief Deroy Bennett] was cleaning out a city storage closet, and I’m sure it’s because the county had to give plans to the city during the 1958–1960 remodel. He found those plans and said, ‘I thought you might like to have these,’” Clark said.
Clark explained that they suspected something had been removed based on wall markings, but the Texas Historical Commission required more than hunch. The plans, which simply included a note to remove the arch, provided that proof.
Paint experts chipped through layers to identify the courthouse’s original palette — pastel blue, peach and cream interior paint. The paint scheme and richly stained woodwork complement the arched hallways and flooring — a combination of checkered marble in the hallways that shift to deep brown hardwoods in each room and office.
Ornate portraits and scenery painted on the vault doors were found covered beneath thick coats of black, too.
“Every time we pulled something back, we found more evidence of what this building once was,” Clark said. “It was literally like peeling back history.”
Among the showstoppers that the public will see Oct. 23 is how the space breathes after the work.
The spiral staircase now winds unobstructed from the basement to the clock tower after the removal of an interior elevator. All windows have been replaced with custom wood frames, crafted by hand to fit each uniquely sized opening.
Other discoveries included plastered-over stained-glass windows. The removal of that plastered area brought back the intended natural lighting, acoustics and airflow. Contractors also found the remains of an intricately designed, yet haphazardly removed, cast-iron rosette that were on the original staircases. It was found behind the elevator shaft. Replicated versions now line the stairways.
Each discovery served as a clue that often led to new plans to ensure authenticity.
Crews also uncovered unusual relics — oatmeal, gas masks and vanilla extract with high alcohol content — offering a glimpse of life inside the courthouse across three centuries.
Behind the restored details lies an infrastructure overhaul most visitors will never see.
“Through all of this, it’s important to remember: this is still a working courthouse, not a museum,” Clark said.
Thousands of feet of new wiring were threaded around the courthouse, often hidden in chimneys or former vaults, adapting to the ceiling and flooring changes. A new fire suppression system — deemed essential after the Wise County Heritage Museum fire — was added with help from the city of Decatur, which installed a 12-inch water main to support it.
The commissioners court meeting space has been outfitted with microphones, streaming equipment and other technology upgrades. The basement, once plagued by leaks and mold, has been waterproofed, and a massive chiller was installed below ground to replace bulky HVAC units.
The final piece will be installation of the exterior elevator. From there, the county can proceed with inspections and move forward with obtaining its certificate of occupancy.
The rededication program will feature a morning ceremony followed by an open house lasting several hours. More details will be released at a later date.
“My hope is if we have a large turnout that people will stick around the square, and maybe if they want to avoid the crowds, they could go grab a bite to eat and come back and see it,” Clark said.
For Clark, the Oct. 23 rededication is both a homecoming and the fulfillment of a promise he made while campaigning for county judge in 2015.
“[The courthouse restoration] is a legacy project, for sure,” Clark said. “… I know this will pay dividends for the community for decades and decades.”
Project timeline
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July 2022 – Texas Historical Commission (THC) grant awarded ($6 million)
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Aug. 2022 – County begins moving offices out of courthouse
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April 2023 – Selective demolition begins; fence installed around building
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June 8, 2023 – Guaranteed Maximum Price approved at $14.6 million. Work ramps up immediately after
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Aug. 2023 – THC awards additional $2.8 million in funding
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2024 – Roof project completed; courthouse finial installed. New custom windows installed; courtroom ceiling removed
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Feb. 2025 – Elevator foundation issues discovered, completion delayed
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Summer 2025 – Final inspections and punch-list items underway
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Oct. 23, 2025 – Courthouse rededication ceremony and open house
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