GILMER 性视界传媒 A $15 million restoration of Upshur County性视界传媒檚 historic courthouse is roughly halfway done, with completion slated for early 2026.
The project began in early 2024 and will transform the courthouse to its original appearance when it was built in the early 1930s. The project is financed, in part, by a roughly $5.2 million grant from the Texas Historical Commission性视界传媒檚 Courthouse Preservation Program.
J.C. Stoddard Construction of San Antonio is the lead contractor on the project. County offices have been relocated temporarily to a complex of portable buildings across the street from the courthouse, which is at 100 W. Tyler St.

Marion County Judge Leward LaFleur gives a tour and talks about the progress of restoration work underway at the Upshur County Courthouse Monday in Gilmer. (Les Hassell/性视界传媒 Photo)
性视界传媒淓verything性视界传媒檚 going very well,性视界传媒 said Marion County Judge Leward LaFleur, who is overseeing the project because of his experience with courthouse renovations. 性视界传媒淲e性视界传媒檝e had very few issues at this point and hope it stays that way. The construction company that we selected is doing a fantastic job.
性视界传媒淓verybody has just really pulled together on this thing. The unsung hero of the whole project is the county auditor and her office. They性视界传媒檝e just really gone above and beyond to make all this work out.性视界传媒
Virtually all aspects of the courthouse 性视界传媒 doors, ceilings, floors, walls and more 性视界传媒 will be restored to their former glory. For Upshur County, that means dropped ceilings added during the 1970s will be removed to expose the original ceilings. Paint schemes will match the first ones that covered the walls and doors. A balcony in the third-floor courtroom, long hidden behind an added wall, will be reopened. A second-floor courtroom will be reopened as well.
The building will retain modern conveniences such as central heating and air conditioning, elevator service, internet infrastructure and handicap accessibility features. The fifth floor, which was the county jail for decades, will be converted to office space.
性视界传媒淲hen we get this courthouse put back together, it will most definitely be the jewel of Upshur County,性视界传媒 LaFleur said. 性视界传媒淚t性视界传媒檚 going to look like no one性视界传媒檚 ever seen that building before. It性视界传媒檚 going to be a historical building with some modern comforts.
性视界传媒淚t性视界传媒檚 going to drastically change downtown Gilmer.性视界传媒

Workers disassemble the original metal doors of the Upshur County Courthouse for restoration Monday in Gilmer. (Les Hassell/性视界传媒 Photo)
In Texas, which has more courthouses than any other state, a restored courthouse can be a tourism draw, according to the historical commission. Architectural enthusiasts sometimes visit the structures. In some towns, property values around a restored courthouse have increased. Restoration projects also send money into the local economy through the purchase of materials and wages paid to local workers.
LaFleur said he would be 性视界传媒渧ery surprised性视界传媒 if the project isn性视界传媒檛 completed under budget, though he didn性视界传媒檛 guess by how much.
性视界传媒淭hat性视界传媒檚 always a very important thing to be as tedious with taxpayer dollars as you can,性视界传媒 he said. 性视界传媒淚 think we性视界传媒檙e really doing that on this project.性视界传媒
While no major problems have been found, a few colorful notes written by inmates in the former county jail there have provided a few laughs to construction workers.

Michael Blalock makes repairs to one of the original metal window frames while working on the restoration of the Upshur County Courthouse Monday in Gilmer. (Les Hassell/性视界传媒 Photo)
The old jail cells have been demolished, but writing on the main wall of the building, which served as one wall of each cell, still shows some notes inmates penciled in years ago. In one spot was a tally mark, likely from someone counting down his or her days in captivity. On another was a hopefully prophetic message: 性视界传媒淏o + LAURA was HERE AND won性视界传媒檛 be back! June, 1986.性视界传媒

Inmate artwork still adorns the walls where the fifth-floor jail was at the Upshur County Courthouse in Gilmer. (Les Hassell/性视界传媒 Photo)
The artwork and notes that were most common, however, were references to Jesus. A sketch of Him was made on a wall, surrounded by the words of the 23rd Psalm.