Approximately one hundred people turned out the morning of September 14th to witness the dedication of the Bailey County Courthouse by the U.S. Department of the Interior as an historic place in the United States.
The courthouse has been recognized as worthy of being placed on the National Register of Historic Places because it is 100 years old. The building is actually 101 years old, having been completed in 1925 at the cost of $60,000. So, the plaque has been mounted by the front entrance and another has been placed inside the building, and the dedication ceremony today made it all official.
Jett Fire Barbecue from Muleshoe cooked hamburgers and the Bailey County Sheriff’s Department, the treasurer’s department and the tax assessor’s office helped serve the crowd who came for the dedication. The four county precincts’ employees set up[ the tables and chairs.
After everyone was served, District Judge Kathryn Gurley led the audience in reciting the Pledge of Allegiances to the U.S. and Texas flags. County Judge Basil Nash then talked about the history of the courthouse and Bailey County. In 1900 the census listed Bailey County as having four residents and originally the county was under the jurisdiction of several other connecting counties, the last one being neighboring Castro County. The original courthouse was the two story building on the corner across the street, but as the railroad came through and more people settled here, the need for a larger courthouse became evident, and that’s when this courthouse was built. That’s also, by the way, when the elm trees still shading the building were planted. So they, too, are 101 years old. Basil reminded us that we have the privilege of living in the history of America and Texas and that keeping our historical structures is important.
Brad Reis, Bailey County deputy sheriff, closed the meeting with an overview of life in Bailey County and the strong sense of community that connects the people who live here. He then blessed the gathering and Bailey County with a heartfelt prayer and benediction.
The ceremony was over, but 85 year-old longtime citizen of Muleshoe and Bailey County Nelda Hunt had been inspired by the speeches to add her thoughts on the matter! She gave a short impromptu history lesson of her life in Muleshoe, how the community had grown, and that it was, in her words, “The Best!” Representatives from the offices of U.S. Senator Ted Cruz and U.S. Representative Jodey Arrington were on hand to offer their congratulations to the milestone event.
For those of you who would like to know more about the courthouse, please go back to my website and read the story I wrote about the courthouse with the help of Judge Corky Green back in 2018, ” A Look at the Bailey County Courthouse,” December 8, 2018. There you will find pictures of the inside of the building and more history about the courthouse. You could also read “Rebecca Loves History,” July 17, 2026, which recounts all the documentation and historical fact-checking it took to get the courthouse officially recognized today. Just type the titles of the stories in the Search line and click on the button and the stories should come up.
Thanks to Rebecca Beall for her help with this article.
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