Haunted Courthouse-Gainesville, Tx

Hi everyone.  Long time since I have been able to write a post.  I am sorry about that.  Hope everyone will hang with me and I will get back on track.  It's just with the holidays and everything, it is a busy time of year, but I know you guys know that.

I would like to thank Kim Ward for submitting this video for us to enjoy.  Kim wrote me and ask me to take a look at a video that was taken by a friend.  This lady took this video with her phone on Veteran's Day inside the Gainesville Courthouse that night. She was standing inside the courthouse on the 3rd floor watching the fireworks out the window. Her sister was standing beside her and right before the "blue" light comes across the screen, she said her phone (not the one taking the video) took two pics and her thumb wasn't even on the phone. They said they saw it in real life then went back and watched the video and saw it on there too. 

I have to say.....this is ONE of the MOST IMPRESSIVE Video's I have ever watched of a orb in motion!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I'm sure you guys will think so to after you see it.  I have watched it several times and each time I am just a little more amazed!

I am trying to research hauntings at this courthouse, but have not found to much about "hauntings" here.  But this building has tons of history and many stories, including when the courthouse burned down, so I feel like there are so many possibilities that spirits are connected to this place.

I would love to hear from anyone that knows any stories on this courthouse.  Kim says there are many stories going around, about hearing laughter and even an incident that a lady felt she was pushed down the stairs.

I can't wait to get up to Gainesville, and hopefully talk to many of the people that work there and hear their experiences first hand.

Below is some interesting information that I thought you guys might enjoy reading about the courthouse.

Here is the link so that you can see this AMAZING VIDEO of an Orb in motion.o

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FBYyYgo8b4&feature=plcp

Thanks again Kim!!!

Cooke county has had four courthouses:
1911
1878
1853
1850

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The restored Cooke County Courthouse Texas Historic Landmark Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, November 2011

The Present Cooke County Courthouse - Gainesville, Texas Date - 1911 Architect - Lang & Witchell Style - Beaux-Arts Material - Brick and stone Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1988. Location - Dixon Street, between California and Main Streets Photographer's Note: "The current 1911 Cooke County courthouse replaced the 1878 courthouse which burned in 1909. The chief architects, Lang and Witchell, designed similar looking courthouses in Johnson County and Scurry County (later remodeled) around the same time. According to legend, the first Cooke County courthouse, a log structure built in 1850, was destroyed by a steer trying to escape a swarm of flies." - Terry Jeanson, June 27, 2009 Cooke County Courthouse Historical Marker > 1911 Cooke County Courthouse - Photos > 1878 Cooke County Courthouse - Photos > Book Gainesville Hotels >

Historical Marker Text Cooke County Courthouse Settlement of the area now known as Cooke County began in late 1845. The county was created by the State Legislature in 1848 and named for William G. Cooke, Republic of Texas Quartermaster General and a participant in the Battle of San Jacinto. Land for a county seat was donated by Mary E. Clark, and the new town was Gainesville in honor of U.S. Army General Edmund Pendleton Gaines. There have been four courthouses located on this site. The first, a small log structure, was erected in 1850. It was replaced in 1853 by a one-story frame building which was later destroyed by fire. The third courthouse, a two-story limestone structure, was completed in 1880 and destroyed by fire in 1909. Designed by the Dallas architectural firm of Lang and Witchell, construction of this Beaux Arts style courthouse began in 1910. The Gainesville firm of Garrett and Collins served as supervising architects, and M. P. Kelly of Gainesville was the contractor. The impressive brick and limestone building features terra cotta ornamentation, eagle brackets, and a copper-clad dome. Clocks were added to the dome in 1920 as a World War I memorial. The courthouse is an important North Texas Landmark. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1988.

Cooke County Courthouse Historical Marker on courthouse square Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, April, 2006

Cooke County courthouse as it appeared in 1939 Photo courtesy TXDoT

Cooke County Courthouse as it appeared in 2003 Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson

The 1911 Cooke County Courthouse Southwest corner Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, November 2011

"The courthouse during the exterior restoration. The exterior was completed and the courthouse rededicated in October of 2006. The interior is also being restored." - Terry Jeanson, April, 2006 photo

Courthouse Eagle Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, April, 2006 See Eagle Eyes of Texas

Cooke County Courthouse Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, April, 2006

The central clock tower with copper-clad dome Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, April, 2006

According to the historical marker, the clocks were not installed until 1920 as a memorial to the first World War. - Terry Jeanson

Cooke County Courthouse skylight, all cleaned up with new paint on the walls. Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, November 2011

"The district courtroom has been restored to its original size and two story height. The stained glass windows and most of the plaster molding on the walls were still intact, just covered up by the previous false ceiling." - Terry Jeanson, November 2011 photo

"Rear of the district courtroom. This courtroom never had a second story balcony but the upper windows used to swivel open. They have been sealed shut for security and safety reasons." - Terry Jeanson, November 2011 photo

Looking down at the rotunda staircase from the fourth floor Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, November 2011

On second floor west side staircase looking east Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, November 2011

1911 Cooke County courthouse with large clock tower & undersized clocks 1920s Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/

Cooke County courthouse in the 1930s Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/

Cooke County courthouse in the late 1930s Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/

Another view of the 1911 Cooke County Courthouse Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/

Civil War Memorial on the courthouse lawn Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, April 2009 More Texas Monuments & Statues

The 1878 Cooke County Courthouse - Gainesville, Texas

The 1878 Cooke County Courthouse 1908 Postcard courtesy www.rootsweb.com/ %7Etxpstcrd/