Foard Co
Est. Feb. 21, 1891

Mr. J. G. Witherspoon has been called the Father of Foard Co., for he was the governing force which led to the organization of a new county, Though his acquaintance with people in several surrounding counties he was able to acquire the 700 sq. miles of land to create a new co.

On Feb. 12, 1891 John H. Stephens of Vernon introduced the bill to call the new co. "Beaver", however another Senator had a law partner he wished to honor. Senator Townsend struck out the word "Beaver" and substituted the name "Foard". The bill was passed on Feb. 16, 1891 and signed on Feb. 21, 1891.

Crowell and Foard City both vied for the Co. Seat honors. An election was held on Apr. 27, 1891. When the votes were case and counted Crowell was the new Co. seat with 183 votes while 106 were cast for Foard City.

According to the hands of the clock in the dome of the badly wrecked court house, the twister struck that building at 8:40 PM tearing out all the clock mechanism and leaving only the dial facing East intact.

The twister had left 11 dead, 125 injured and over 1500 homeless. Ninety percent of buildings (business and homes) were destroyed or damaged. Fire wiped one business block.

Residents were helped by 200 Civilian Conservation Corps workers in the cleanup. The Red Cross and National Guard troops provided meals and drinking water for the beleagured citizens in days following the disaster.

With World War II hardly five months old building materials were hard to obtain as most of the material was going to the military as the nation prepared to fight Germany, Japan and Italy.

Willis Granite Products
Granite Oklahoma

—Monument in front of court house

Foard County Courthouse

This is the second courthouse to serve Foard County since its creation in 1891. By 1909, the first courthhouse proved too small for the needs of the county, and voters passed a bond election for the purpose of building a new one. The commissioners court selected Elmer G. Whithers as architect, R. H. Stuckey as superintendent, and G. W. Brillhart of Abilene as contractor. Completed in 1910, the classical revival couthouse featured a statue of Lady Justice atop a dome cupola and prominent porticoes with paired Corinthian Columns on each side. Tornado damage in 1942 resulted in the loss of these features, but the courthouse was repaired and still retains the basic configuration of its original design.

Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 2001

—Plaque in front of court house