A crowd of more than 700 gathered on the Decatur Square Thursday morning as the Wise County Courthouse was rededicated, celebrating the years-long effort to restore the building to its original 1895 design and preserve it for years of work to come.
It was a stirring scene.
Bagpipes echoed through the square as a massive American flag hung between two fire truck ladders, and community members paused to reflect on the iconic structure that has stood for the last 130 years as the center of Wise County life.
This building has witnessed the highs and lows of the county, from vigils like the one held after the death of Athena Strand to the annual Christmas tree lighting that fills the square with warmth and wonder.
On Thursday, the fences and barricades were removed, and the community once again returned to be inspired.
Speakers throughout Thursday’s ceremony reflected not only on the effort to restore the courthouse but also on the vision it took to build it in the first place. The previous two Wise County courthouses were destroyed by fire, prompting county leaders in the 1890s to commission a structure that would stand the test of time.
Thursday’s celebration — and the proud glint in the eyes of those touring the restored halls — was further proof of their success.
“Look at this courthouse,” County Judge J.D. Clark said in his opening remarks. “This building was not built by timid men. This is the work of bold leaders — visionaries who looked far beyond what was and imagined what could be.
“Today, we continue that vision by ensuring that a place so entwined in both our history and our future — a symbol of our past and our potential — stands ready to continue serving, and inspiring, Wise County for generations. And just as our generation points to our county fathers to say, ‘They built this,’ future generations of Wise County will point to us and say, ‘They saved this.’”
The ceremony featured remarks from Clark, Texas Sen. Tan Parker, Texas Rep. Andy Hopper, Premier Commercial Group’s Alan Odom, Komatsu Architecture’s Karl Komatsu and Texas Historical Commission Vice Chair Garrett Donnelly.
Even President Donald J. Trump commended Wise County for its efforts to preserve the historic courthouse in a statement read by Clark at the ceremony.
Laura Bush and Gov. Greg Abbott also contributed, in the form of a letter and a proclamation.
The Decatur High School Chamber Choir performed the national anthem, with additional music by the North Texas Caledonian Pipes and Drums. The Wise County Veterans Group conducted the inaugural flag raising in front of the restored building, presenting the colors in the process.
The guaranteed maximum price with Premier Commercial Group for the project was $14.6 million. Most of the cost was covered through the state’s grant program dedicated to preserving historic courthouses.
In July 2022, Wise County’s application for the Texas Historical Commission restoration grant was secured after it scored a 208 — the highest of 19 projects considered during that cycle. Since then, it’s been a long and winding road to this triumphant moment.
Last August, the court accepted an additional $2.8 million in funding from the Texas Historical Commission (THC), bringing the total THC grant to $8 million, due to changes in project scope. The remainder of the project is expected to be covered by the county’s $3 million American Rescue Plan allotment. The county also set aside existing building and grounds capital and future Hotel Occupancy Tax revenue to offset restoration costs.
Going inside
Following the ceremony, and bell tower notes that hadn’t been heard in years, hundreds moved inside to see the work for themselves — finding a picture of life inside the courthouse that was sorely missed.
The looks on visitors’ faces said it all.
Awe was a universal expression once the masses found their way up the stairs and inside the district courtroom.
The ceiling that had loomed over the courtroom since the 1960s remodel is gone now, and in its place is J. Riely Gordon’s lofty vision for the courthouse. The soaring ceilings, balcony seating and rounded arches are all back.
The design throughout the building, which under the remodel seemed misplaced, make sense.
Adding depth to the soaring ceilings and more breathable spaces are detailed, handcrafted finishes.
All of the courthouse’s windows were replaced with custom wooden ones, each a unique size. Many of the speakers remarked on those windows, and the family that built and installed them each by hand.
In August 2024, the Hejny family and several of the contractors and county officials that got to know Glenn Hejny suffered a significant loss after the 58-year-old man died from an apparent workplace accident on the site. Sen. Parker said Hejny’s legacy and craftsmanship live on in the courthouse. A plaque honoring Hejny is displayed near the entrance of the courthouse.
An archaeological dig of sorts
There were several unexpected discoveries from the start of demolition to Thursday’s ceremony, from booze drenched vanilla extract to a gas mask.
Some finds led to a change of plans.
The decorative plaster arch over the judge’s bench in the district courtroom wasn’t part of the original restoration plan until long-forgotten blueprints from the 1960s remodel were found. Those blueprints included a handwritten note: “Remove arch.”
That was enough, and they altered course. Now, the arch now adds another rounded feature to a building full of them, from the hallways to the carved details under the roof lines and the spiraling staircase that winds all the way to the skylight now visible from the basement after the removal of the interior elevator.
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. Crafted versions now line the stairways.
Each discovery served as a clue that often led to new plans to ensure authenticity.
A working courthouse
Behind the restored details lies an infrastructure overhaul most visitors will never see.
That was the challenge of this project: balancing these beautiful views with the needs of a working courthouse in 2025 and beyond.
The courthouse itself was in poor repair before work began in 2022. The roof leaked, there was water damage, and in many areas, it simply didn’t make sense anymore.
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.
There were clever solutions to make these modern comforts seamless in the restoration.
One example is the secure vestibules in several office doorways. Typically, such vestibules in government buildings look like they belong in a drab government space — but here, they’ve been seamlessly outfitted with the same polished wood molding that frames the colorful paint, polished marble and original hardwood flooring from 1896.
There’s still work to be done. The elevator, which will be installed on the exterior of the northwest corner of the courthouse, has yet to be completed. Other tasks remain before the project can receive a permanent certificate of occupancy.
But soon, Wise County business will return to the symbol of justice that has towered over the Decatur Square for the past 130 years — with work that will allow it serve the county for generations to come.
County employees and elected officials haven’t worked out of the courthouse since moving out in August 2022. It’s uncertain when they’ll officially return.
But when they do, they’ll step into a workplace with aura — one that demands a standard envisioned by local leaders in the late 19th century,
In 1895, the Wise County Messenger reported, “We want to see a courthouse possessed of two qualities — beauty and durability… Let us have a courthouse that will be an ornament worthy of the size, wealth and importance of our county.”
Before officially rededicating the Wise County Courthouse Thursday Clark shared his vision for the reborn courthouse.
“To everyone who had a hand in this project — our commissioners, the Texas Historical Commission, our project managers, architects, contractors, tradespeople, county employees and the citizens who supported this effort from start to finish — thank you. You have not only restored a courthouse; you have renewed a legacy.
And finally, to my fellow citizens of Wise County: this is our courthouse. It belongs to all of us, just as it did to those who gathered on this square 130 years ago, and just as it will belong to our grandchildren and theirs. As we rededicate it today, may it continue to stand as a place of fairness, of service and of pride. May it remind us that while time moves on, the values that built this county still hold firm.
And now — by the authority vested in me as Wise County Judge, and on behalf of the Commissioners Court and the people of Wise County — I proudly rededicate the Historic Wise County Courthouse.”
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