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Courthouse Steps - Quilt Block Series LbNA #20646

Owner:Lone Star Quilter
Plant date:Mar 1, 2006
Location:
City:Coldspring
County:San Jacinto
State:Texas
Boxes:1
Found by: GirlsJustWantToHaveFun
Last found:Jan 17, 2015
Status:FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
Last edited:Mar 1, 2006
Why is it that most courthouses, at least in Texas, have wide, sweeping steps leading up to the second floor, which is the main floor? Why wasn’t the main floor at street level? But, if the main floor didn’t require any steps, then there never would have been a quilt block called Courthouse Steps. This one is dedicated to the memory of the original San Jacinto County Courthouse, which was the last wooden courthouse in Texas.
Coldspring was originally located in a lovely valley bordered by a deep canyon. It was platted into fourteen blocks, including the original courthouse square. A two-story wooden courthouse was erected here in 1871. Until then, the wide central hall of the Carnes Hotel had served as a courtroom. Sam Houston once maintained an office there. In 1915 a fire reduced it to ashes. A new stone courthouse was built to the south on higher ground. The town moved with it, leaving only the County Jail at the original town site, which is now known as Old Town Coldspring.

Directions:
Take U. S. 59 to Shepherd, then SH 150 west 11 miles to Coldspring. Stop at the blinking red light next to the courthouse. Go straight through the light to Dr. Phil's office, then turn right and go until the street dead-ends. Turn left and go downhill a ways until you come to the Old Jail on your right. Park in the parking lot at the jail. If you come into town from the west on SH 150, go past the historic old Methodist Church and stop at the red light. Turn left to Dr. Phil’s office.

Clues:
There was once a street where the parking lot sits and across this street was the courthouse. Go to the front entrance of the jail and turn around. Looking across the street, you will see a clearing with a couple of buildings to the right. Before you get to those buildings, you will see a large pine tree in the clearing with a smaller cedar tree growing about six inches from it. The box you’re looking for is hidden between the two trees under pine needles and a rock. Be discreet. Most of the time there will be no one around, but on some weekends, the place will be buzzing with activity. The jail/museum is open on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Please replace as found and …..RECOVER WELL. Please notify me when you find this box.