Courtesy: The Flavor Of Odessa, 1891-1991

The second Ector County Courthouse, built in 1904, is shown during an election in the late 1920s. In 1938 it was replaced by the present courthouse.

Quoting from "Odessa City of Dreams" The old red stone courthouse, which was torn down in 1938 to make way for one of the most modern and attractive buildings in West Texas, is said to have been bought by Mr. Polk Bagley. He in turn sold the material to various individuals to pay for the removal of the structure. Mr. Glen Allen contracted for some of the sand stone. He used it to build his ranch home between Odessa and Monahans. I was told he imported expert masons from Mexico to contract the work. It was rough work, as many of those nice square sand stone blocks were broken in the dismantling and the move.

Doctor Headlee used some of the sand stone to build fences and improve his ranch property on the East side of town.

At one time the courthouse lawn was covered with big cottonwood trees. There was a windmill and a tank in the northeast corner of the block, and on picnic days the youngsters all went swimming in the tank. The trees had to go to make way for "Progress".

Side view of the Stone structure. Note elevated platform for speakers or Odessa Band to perform. I remember a much more elaborate square or possibly an octagon platform with a Pitched roof. It is possible it was built at a different time than the date of this photograph.