Hendry County Courthouse - LaBelle, Florida

Bill B.

I've always had friendly service,from the country sheriff deputies,to the office people

Ariel W.

I am a fan of history and architecture, especially old Florida courthouses. Usually they are Neoclassical but the Hendry County Courthouse is a bit different. The Old Hendry County Courthouse was built in in 1927 on the corner of Bridge Street and Hickpochee Avenue. The courthouse was designed in the Mediterranean Revival-Mission Revival styles by architect Edward Columbus Hosford.

The building is 3 stories with three subsidiary towers with pyramid roofs at the corner of the building. The most striking feature of the building is a large Renaissance 70 foot clock tower that contained a one thousand pound bell. A Seth Thomas electrically-regulated clock that cost $3,000 at the time was added to the tower. The clock would frequently lose time forcing the late Ray C. Hull, Sr. who was chosen for this thinness to climb the inside of the tower to wind the clock. On May 11, 1926 a shameful incident happened in LaBelle that was not uncommon during this period of history in Florida. A mob tortured and lynched an African-American man named Henry Patterson who asked for a glass of water while working on building Hwy 80. He was attacked and hung from a tree south of the newly built courthouse. No one was brought to justice for the murder. After the crime a series of lightning storms struck the tower and eventually the clock and bell were dismantled.

The courthouse began operating on May 3, 1927. Ever since then it has served as the center of Hendry County's civic and political functions. On February 22, 1975 a new clock was installed in the tower but it is no longer working. On November 8, 1990, the Hendry County Courthouse was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

The courthouse is currently undergoing restoration. It has been granted two Special Category Grants to rehabilitate, restore and preserve the Old Hendry County Courthouse. The first grant was for $350,000 to rehabilitate the foundation. Another $500,000 has been granted for facade preservation. Once that work is completed it is hoped that another $500,000 dollars will be granted for brick work and installing a new clock at a price of $42,000. An additional $10,000 would be required for bells and chimes in the form of digital carillon Sonata that can programmed to also play hymns and songs. If you go by the courthouse now it is covered in scaffolding. It will be interesting to see how the restoration turns out.e

num N.

Judges will work with the sheriff's department mayor commissioners and code enforcement to make you look guilty if they need. To make themselves look good. They will create false reports and the judges will overlook facts proof of stalking or harassment from the mayor. Just so they could stay in good standing with them.

WILSON A.

Tags and titles is a joke called 5 times for them to answer and click. And for them to give me an attitude is outrageous. If I could give them a 0 I would.

Cathy S.

Very helpful, but not able to do what I wanted to. I am Lee County so I had to go to Lee Blvd., in Lehigh to the Lee Tax Collector, so busy going to have to wait for my Florida licence. Wow people standing outside to get in then you get a ticket to wait more.

Erika G.

Very good

Jony R.

Excellent place.
They help me with my problem.

the P.

Driver license lady was very rude.