“The county’s northwestern corner lies on the Llano Estacado.”
“Reagan County comprises 1,173 square miles of flat to gently sloping sandy terrain in the northwestern and north central regions and flat to sharply dissected limestone and rolling caliche in the remaining sections.”
“Numerous draws, which remain dry most of the year, provide drainage into the Middle Concho River during floods. Centralia Draw, which crosses the middle of Reagan County, is the most prominent. Runoff from the extreme southwestern corner of the county drains into the Pecos River.”
“By the 1890s sheep and goat ranchers had moved into the central area of the county near the homesite of another early settler, Gordon Stiles, on Centralia Draw. The local post office, named for Stiles, was established in 1894, and a store opened there before 1900.”
“In 1911 Taylor sold 320 acres of land to the Kansas City, Mexico and Orient of Texas Railway for a station and townsite, which was named for the local landmark and promoted by the railroad. The railroad chose a route through Big Lake rather than Stiles, because a large landowner near Stiles failed to grant a right-of-way.”
“Big Lake citizens voted to incorporate on August 15, 1923. In 1925, by which time the population had reached 100 and Big Lake appeared to be the most important town in the county, voters moved the seat of government there from Stiles.”
“In 1930 the Reagan County population reflected the oil boom rather than the Great Depression.”
“Livestock remained the focus of agriculture, with 13,000 cattle and 5,000 sheep and goats, and farmers raised a few crops. By 1936 the county was stocked with 120,000 sheep, 12,000 beef cattle, and 2,000 goats and shipped wool and mohair.”
Julia Cauble Smith, “REAGAN COUNTY,” Handbook of Texas Online
The true gem (when it comes to courthouses) in Reagan County is the long abandoned 1911 structure located some sixteen miles north of Big Lake in the ghost town of Stiles. When I visited Big Lake, I had no idea of Stiles’ existence. I intend to travel back to Reagan County to visit Stiles in the future.
I came to Big Lake on August 13, 2013
1911 Courthouse – Stiles
“The old Stiles Courthouse now stands alone on a fading courthouse square in Stiles, Texas. The white board fence that once surrounded the courthouse property and the town buildings that circumscribed the square have all disappeared since the County Seat was moved twenty miles to the south of Stiles over fifty years ago. The stone courthouse and associated records vault are the only survivors of this early community that has
now faded into the desolate plains of West Texas.”
“The first floor interior plan is a Greek cross with intersecting center hallways and four corner rooms measuring 16′ square. The stairway is located in the west hallway. The courtroom and two other offices are located on the second floor. Interior detailing includes plaster walls, simple door/window trim and baseboard, transoms over doorways and a wooden chair rail in the courtroom. The ceiling on both floors is pressed tin and the floors are wooden.
A small raised platform is the only distinguishing feature in the courtroom.”
-National Register Narrative
The Stiles courthouse had an unknown architect, but it is believed that the contractor (William Martin of Martin & Moodie) also could have potentially designed this building as it has strikingly similar characteristics to the 1901 Irion County Courthouse in Sherwood. It was abandoned in 1925. All that remains indoors is a limestone vault on the east side of the building.
Photo Credits: left photo (www.ohio.edu), right photo (www.texasescapes.com)
Now, on to Big Lake…..
REAGAN COUNTY COURTHOUSE
Architect: David S. Castle
Year: 1927
Number for the County: Third
Style: Classical Revival
The cornerstone pays no tribute to David S. Castle
The main entrance faces south, perpendicular to Plaza Avenue and parallel to Highway 67
Inside the building
A unique feature of the courthouse interior
Eastern entrance
