Johnson County
Guinn Justice Center Courts Building
Cleburne, Texas
 
 
     
 
Completed - 1918 as Cleburne High School
Architect - Saguine & Staats
Reconstructed - 2004 as Guinn Justice Center Courts Building 
Architect - Magee Architects
Photos: Robert Deering 6/25/2015

COUNTY ORGANIZED: 1854

COUNTY NAMED FOR: Middleton T. Johnson, who had served in the Mexican War, on the Texas frontier, and in the Civil War, and was later a legislator.

COUNTY SEATS: Three - Wardville, Buchanan, and Cleburne

COUNTY SEAT NAMED FOR: Gen. Patrick Cleburne

COURTHOUSES: Five - 1854 in Wardville; 1857 in Buchanan; 1883, 1912, and 2004 in Cleburne.

STANDING: Three -

  • 1854 log cabin courthouse near the original Wardville site.
  • 1912 Texas Renaissance building of brick and concrete.
  • 2004. Former Cleburne High School building of 1918 now serves as the Guinn Justice Center Courts Building.  
 
 

1912 Courthouse in Cleburne
 
 
1883 Courthouse in Cleburne
Architect - W.C. Dodson.
 Photo: Texas Historical Commission
 
 
1854 Courthouse in Wardville
This building was completely gutted down to the ground and only the exterior walls were preserved.  This is otherwise a totally new build.  
 
       
Construction and Interior Photos Courtesy of Magee Architects 
ADDRESS: 204 S Buffalo Ave, Cleburne, Texas

 

Johnson County Courthouse
Cleburne, Texas
 
 Completed - 1912
 Architect - Lang & Witchell
Photo: Robert Deering 9/22/2014
         
           

1912 Courthouse in Cleburne
Texas DoT Photo 1939
1912 Courthouse in Cleburne
Photo: Robert Deering 1974
RENOVATION: Complete - Rededication December 1, 2007

ADDRESS: 2 N Main St., Cleburne, TX

 

Johnson County Courthouse
Wardville, Texas
 
 Completed - 1854
 Architect -
Photos: Robert Deering 6/9/2008
Wardville was the first county seat in Johnson County. This 16' x 16' log cabin was built in 1854 and served as the first Johnson County Courthouse for two years before the county seat was moved to Bucannan and later to Cleaburne.  The 1854 Courthouse was moved to it's present location when Lake Pat Cleburne was built in 1961 and flooded the townsite.  It is now located at the Chisholm Trail Outdoor Museum west of Lake Pat Cleburne.  
         
ADDRESS:  101 Chishom Trail, Wardville (Cleburne), Texas