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Behind Every Cloud is a Kindred Spirit (BECKS)I lost my grandfather when I was 17. I had a VERY difficult time getting over it. How could I still communicate with him? I loved him so much I didn't think I could live without him. I read everything I could get my hands on to do with the "afterlife" and that started it all...the love of Ghost Hunting and the Paranormal. I have been researching the paranormal for over 37 years!! It is my way of staying in touch with my grandfather. Being a Ghost Hunter is not always as exciting as it seems on TV. Many nights I have sat in the dark and not a thing happened. BUT it is those times you DO get that one voice, that one explainable picture or have an experience that sends chills down your back that makes it sooo worth it all!!! My purpose of this blog is not to make people believe in ghosts but maybe to open their minds just a little bit... I LOVE this crazy thing called Ghost Hunting. It is as much a part of me as breathing. I am just a girl that refuses to accept we can't still contact our loved ones after they die. My grandfather won't let me.

12/02/2012

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

Book Hotel
Gainesville Hotels


Gainesville TX - Restored 1911 Cooke County Courthouse SE corner

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, Gainesville, Texas 1939 photo

Cooke County courthouse as it appeared in 1939
Photo courtesy TXDoT



Gainesville Texas Cooke county Courthouse today

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



Gainesville TX - Restored 1911 Cooke County Courthouse

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



Gainesville TX Cooke County Courthouse

"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



Gainesville TX Cooke County Courthouse Eagle

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



Gainesville TX Cooke County Courthouse Clock and architectural detail

Cooke County Courthouse
Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, April, 2006



Gainesville TX Cooke County Courthouse Clock tower with copper dome

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


Skylight of Cooke CountyCourthouse, Gainesville, Texas

Cooke County Courthouse skylight,
all cleaned up with new paint on the walls.

Photo courtesy Terry Jeanson, November 2011



Gainesville TX - 1911 Cooke County Courthouse district courtroom

"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



Gainesville TX - 1911 Cooke County Courthouse district courtroom

"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



Gainesville TX - 1911 Cooke County Courthouse rotunda

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



Gainesville TX - 1911 Cooke County Courthouse staircase

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



1911 Cooke County Courthouse, Gainesville, Texas 1920s photo

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



Cooke County Courthouse, Gainesville, Texas 1930s photo

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



Cooke County Courthouse, Gainesville, Texas late 1930s photo

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



1911 Gainesville, Texas Cooke County courthouse old postcard

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



Gainesville Tx Civil War Statue

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



The 1878 Cooke County Courthouse -
Gainesville, Texas



1878 Cooke County Courthouse, Gainesville, Texas

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

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