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Location DB > United States > Texas > Stiles > Stiles, Texas & The Courthouse
 Name
Stiles, Texas & The Courthouse
 Viewing Options
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 Database Info
created by Peptic Ulcer on 11/10/2015 3:22 AM
last modified by Peptic Ulcer on 11/10/2015 3:30 AM
 Viewability
Publically Viewable Publically Viewable
This location has been labeled by its creator as Public, and therefore can be viewed by anyone.
 Overview
 Description
Beautiful old turn of the century courthouse. A bit small overall with the upper floor and roof completely missing.
 Basic Information
Type: Outdoors
Status: Closed
Accessibility: Easy
Recommendation: check it out if you're nearby
 Physical Information
Address

Stiles, Texas
United States
Owner:
 Hazards
  • rust
  • unsafe flooring
  • The road to this place is awful. Unless you have a truck or SUV, park at the street and hike in.
  •  Interesting Features
    Extremely well constructed turn of the century county courthouse. 4 chimneys remain on each corner but the entire interior has been gutted
     Security Measures
  • fences
  • barbed wire
  • locked gates
  •  Historical Dates
    Built: 1911
    Closed: 1925
     Required Equipment
  • gloves
  • long pants / sleeves
  • Camera
  •  Recommended Equipment

     History
    Courthouse History:
    Source: The Reagan County Story - published in 1974

    Stiles located on Centralia Draw and approximately in the center of the county, was the only town when Reagan County was organized, in May 1903. G. W. (Rome) Shields deeded the land to the county for the courthouse for $379.44. This property was known as the Public Square. The first courthouse was a small frame building costing less than $500. About a year later a bond election was held to vote $5,000 to build a more substantial courthouse, jail and stone vault. In November 1910 a bond election was held and voted $20,000 in 40 year bonds to erect a two-story stone building on the Public Square. The contract for this building first went to August Balfanz, San Angleo. However, according to records of the Commissioners Court dated Feb. 2, 1911, more than 30 days had elapsed and August Balfanz had failed to and refused to take the bonds and begin work. . . so the Court rescinded the order. Then on the next day, Feb. 3, 1911, the Court again met and awarded the contract to William Martin of Commanche, Texas "according to plans submitted and specifications filed." Mr. Martin was to begin work immediately and to complete the building in eight months. On Oct. 25, 1911 the new courthouse was finished and inspected by the Commissioners Court. On Nov. 13, 1911 the old frame courthouse was sold at public auction to T. D. Lucas, who was the highest bidder for $107.50

    The new courthouse was built of native stone that was quarried from the hillside just about one half mile away. A. H. Garner, a newcomer to the county, helped haul the heavy stones in a wagon pulled by mules. Other men who hauled the stones were Tom Lucas, who used mules hitched to his wagon, and a Mr. Shepard who used donkeys. Mr. Garner was a stone mason by trade by trade but was unable to work on the courthouse because he belonged to the Stonemasons Union and this job was not a union one.

    The building went up quickly and was a source of pride for all the area. Nowhere else in West Texas was there a courthouse to match this one in attractiveness and in value. But almost at once there was a dark harbinger of ill times. In 1910 the Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railroad planned to build a railroad up Centralia Draw from San Angelo through Fort Stockton. But a prominent land owner in Reagan County refused to sell the right-of-way. So the line swung twenty miles to the south, bypassing Stiles. Big Lake was born in 1911 and just about caught up in size with Stiles in 1919. In 1923 the famed Santa Rita oil well was brought in near the railroad west of Big Lake. Big lake boomed and in 1925 a vote for moving the county seat to Big Lake was passed by 292 to 94. After that Stiles slowly died.

    Utilized as a community center, the still attractive and roomy building was used for many community parties, barbecues and dances, and as a school for one year. The Stiles Dance Club used the building for years for their monthly dances.

    The Ralph Denton Story:
    The following was taken from the Big Lake Wildcat, April 15, 1999

    ARREST MADE IN STILES ARSON CASE--Big Lake Wildcat April 15, 1999 "A Midland man has been arrested and charged with 18 counts of arson following a lenghty investigation by local officers and Texas Rangers as well as local and area fire departments. Ralph Durwood Denton, 62, of Midland is charged with arson in 7 counties, including Reagan County. In Reagan County, Denton is charged with fires at the Johnson farm, a building near Reagan County gin, the old store at Stiles, and three attempts at the Stiles Courthouse itself. The case against Denton originally broke February 16 when a citizen of Reagan County noticed a vehical at the site of the original fire at Reagan County gin. The citizen followed the vehicle and was also in communication with Reagan County Sheriff's officers. Sheriff's officers located the suspect vehicle at Stiles near the historical marker. After observing Denton, officers detained him for questioning at Reagan County Courthouse. At the Sheriff's Office, Denton was interviewed on videotape by Chief Deputy Daryl Reber and Big Lake Fire Chief Doc Robertson. Some alleged evidence was observed and recovered from Denton's vehicle at that time, including items known to have been used in arson cases. Denton is charged with arson in Reagan County, Tom Green County, Concho, McCulloch, Upton, Pecos, and Midland counties. Denton is retired from the U.S. Navy. He is currently in Midland County jail where he was arrested by Texas Rangers and arraigned. Bond was set at $250,000. Two charges will be filed in Reagan County. One charge will be arson. The other charge will be arson enhanced with an injury to a firefigther. Both charges pertain to the Stiles Courthouse. Locally, bond is expected to be set in the amount of $25,000 for the arson case, and $50,000 for the injury to a firefighter charge. In addition to Reagan County officers, BLVFD investigators, Texas Rangers Jess Malone of Midland and Jerry Byrnes of Ozona and most recently assisted in the investigation. Arson cases in Reagan County: 1. The old Pettit Home at Stiles was completely destroyed by a fire December 6, 1998. 2. December 24, the first attempt to burn the Stiles Courthouse was made. 3. On Christmas Day 1998, a second attempt to burn the Stiles Courthouse was made. 4. On Christmas Day 1998, a vacant farm house in North Reagan County was burned to the ground. Firefighters were responding to that call when they saw smoke coming from the Stiles Courthouse. 5. A structure fire at Stiles was reported at 3:00 p.m. Monday, December 28. That house was formerly the Jo Nell Carnes residence and it was a total loss. Also on Monday, firefighters in Upton County responded to a case of arson at the old Mule Train tavern, just west of Rankin. 6. On January 3, 1999 the Stiles Courthouse was completly consumed on the inside by a fire set by an arsonist. 7. January 7, 1999 a vacant farmhouse at Sprayberry was burned to the ground. Reagan County Sheriff Efrain Gonzales said, 'A lot of credit needs to be given to members of the fire department and a lot of others. We had North Reagan County under survellience for a long time and firemen went above and beyond the call of duty to assist in every way they could.' "


    Below is taken from the Texas State Historical Association:

    STILES, TEXAS. Stiles is near the intersection of State Highway 137 and Centralia Draw, eighteen miles north of Big Lake in north central Reagan County. Areas of massive limestone are found in and near Stiles. The area was on the Butterfield Overland Mail route in 1859–61 and was settled by sheep and goat ranchers in the 1890s. The town was named for Gordon Stiles, who donated land for the townsite. William G. Stiles applied for a post office, which was established in 1894, and a store was operated nearby. Because it was the only town in the county Stiles was chosen county seat of Reagan County when the county was organized in 1903. In 1907 John Marvin Hunter began publication of the Stiles Journal, the first newspaper in Reagan County. By 1910 Stiles had a population of 191 and a frame courthouse. The following year William Martin, of Comanche, built a new courthouse with stone quarried from a hillside near the town. In 1911 the Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railroad bypassed Stiles in favor of a route through Big Lake. The original survey for the railroad included Stiles, but the right-of-way was changed to the southern part of the county when a rancher refused to grant permission for the road to cross his land. After the discovery of oil at the Santa Rita oil well near Big Lake in 1923, Stiles began to decline. Following an election on May 28, 1925, Big Lake became the county seat. By 1925 the population of Stiles had fallen to seventy-five, and by 1939 the post office had been discontinued. From 1966 to 1990 the population was estimated at sixteen. In 2000 the population was four.

     Media Coverage

     Future Plans
    This place is in a ghost town. It's going to stay there until it blows away in the wind.
     Stories


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    November 2015
    Tue, Nov 10th, 2015
    posted by Peptic Ulcer
    13 pictures
     


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     Moderator Rating
    The moderator rating is a neutral rating of the content quality, photography, and coolness of this location.

    Category Rating
    Photography 8 / 10
    Coolness 7 / 10
    Content Quality 9 / 10
     Validation
    This location's validation is current. It was last validated by Explorer Zero on 11/18/2015 11:24 AM.

     Latest Changes
  • on Nov 18 15 at 11:24, Explorer Zero validated this location
  • on Nov 10 15 at 3:46, Peptic Ulcer made this location public
  • on Nov 10 15 at 3:46, Peptic Ulcer made this location available
  • on Nov 10 15 at 3:46, Peptic Ulcer added some pictures to a gallery
  • on Nov 10 15 at 3:43, Peptic Ulcer added some pictures to a gallery
  • on Nov 10 15 at 3:32, Peptic Ulcer created a new gallery
  • on Nov 10 15 at 3:32, Peptic Ulcer updated the main picture
  • on Nov 10 15 at 3:30, Peptic Ulcer changed the following: Required Equipment, Future Plans, Description
  • on Nov 10 15 at 3:28, Peptic Ulcer changed the following: Display Name, Notes for Mods, Type, City, Province / State (please use full name), Country, Latitude, Longitude, Co-ordinate Accuracy, History, Year Built, Year Closed, Status, Accessibility, Hazards, Interesting Features, Recommendation, Security Measures, Media Coverage, Future Plans, Description, Web Links
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