Some hallways in the Wichita County Courthouse will soon be decorated with depictions of the county’s past.
County Commissioner Mark Beauchamp has made arrangements for nearly forgotten paintings of historic scenes to be on display for courthouse visitors.
Beauchamp said the paintings were done by San Antonio artist Janet Campbell in about 1986 on a commission from City National Bank. They originally hung in the bank’s building at Eighth Street and Scott Avenue.
The bank changed names and eventually left the building, but the employees donated the painting to the Museum of North Texas History, Beauchamp said. He said a couple were displayed there but most were locked in away in a vault.
“I had gone over there to help them with a problem and they asked if there was something they could do for me. I said, ‘Yeah, I want that painting,’” Beauchamp said, referring to a picture of the courthouse.
He said he then learned there were others, 12 of which are accounted for and two of which are missing.
The paintings depict locations from early-day Wichita County, including one of the old train depot, a scene from Ninth Street, several representing the Burkburnett oil boom and a street scene after a rain shower.
The Wichita County Commissioners Court voted on Tuesday to accept the artworks, which will likely be hung on the third floor.
For now, Beauchamp is showing off the courthouse rendering but saving the others for a big reveal when they go on public display, probably in June.
This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Historic paintings of Wichita County come out of the vault
Reporting by Lynn Walker, Wichita Falls Times Record News / Wichita Falls Times Record News
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