Sunday I went to Waxahachie [pronounced woks-uh-hatch-ee] and I took some photos of the old red sandstone Ellis County courthouse which dates from 1895. Click here for a virtual tour of this structure.
Here is a history of the carving as I remember it:
This masonry was commissioned of a noted Italian carver by a local enormously wealthy businessman. When the Italian arrived in town, Cupid smote him with an overwhelming desire for the comely daughter of the businessman. In tribute to her, he rendered her likeness in sandstone on one corner of the building. Over time, however, she spurned his advances and the now embittered Italian vented his spleen in the remaining curlicued embellishments of the courthouse. As you view the other 3 corners of the courthouse, her face morphs into a bloated cavalcade of grotesques, each more hideous than the last.
Also, legend has it that one particular carving on the structure is the spitting image of the place where babies come from. Uncharacteristically for me-- I've never tried to ferret out the outrage, and I probably never will. I'm content to live with the mystery.
By the way, I misspelled that last "and" as "nad." Coincidence, or psychic phenomenon?
18 comments:
Interesting story.
Now I know all those gargoyle statues on old buildings are really ex-girlfriends ;)
Veddy Intadestink! You are a veritable schmorgasbord of information Phlegmy! I agree with Hammer...it's all coming together now!
You mean he put a carving of a stork's nest on the building?
I think the old courthouses in Texas are some of the greatest buildings in the country. But that's just one ol' pharte's opinion.
I don't see anything that looks like that place? Where?
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
hammer - some may be ex-girlfriends, but I think most are mother-in-laws.
tony - Yes, I'm a font of useless - if interesting - information
myron - No, Myron - it was a cabbage. Every time you comment I love you more! I am in agreement - there is in every county courthouse I've seen in Texas an element of the grand and elegant, and I appreciate the very high standards and aspirations of the residents who built them. Good on them.
mushy - I TOLD you I didn't look for it and as far as I know I don't have any photographs of it. It's interesting, though, that he got away with it, isn't it?
Happy Turkey Day yourself!
Love it. Gotta love a legend involving genitalia (allegedly). Beeeoootiful building. I love that first picture. You live in a great place.
Yup - it's a good story. The building really is magnificent, and the red standstone is visibile for some miles across the plains. Lovely town, too. Thanks - I do think there is a lot to love about living in Texas.
I love these old courthouses. The one here in Dickens County is also from the late 1800's. They knew how to build them back then.
Yeah, fuzzy - these old courthouses rock! Yeah, they built things to last in those days. Impressive.
How strange and wonderful! They just don't build places out of spite anymore.
I remember in Italy seeing an altar in the Vatican where was carved face of a woman was carved in different phases of childbirth. I remember it offending my sensibilities at the time, but now I think it was kind of cool.
barbara - yeah, spite is a great motivator, innit?
zelda - It's amazing how one's view of things changes over the years, isn't it? Not that I'll ever have children, but I think that wouldn't be the instant I'd want my countenance set in stone for posterity.
So, yer tellin' me there's a huge gash in the wall there somewhere? Hm, a mystery. Those old county court houses are cool as hell. Love the one in Georgetown.
fathairybastard - no honey, you weren't listening - it was a cabbage. There's a carved cabbage on there somewhere. Or maybe just a cabbage leaf. Or maybe it was a turnip truck.
I once had a so-called friend that lives there in WAX a Hatch EEeeeeeee. She's an idiot.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Uh, ok.
A cabbage? Never heard it called that before.
I was just fascinated by this when I read this a few days ago, but now I'm just thankful I never dated an architect. The grudge can life on for... centuries!!!
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