Shelby County Historic Courthouse Receives Unique Visitors

March 17, 2022 - The Shelby County Historic 1885 Courthouse had a unique visitor to its grounds Wednesday, March 16, 2022, with blood ties to its construction.

Derek Lemons, a great-great-grandson to John Joseph Emmett (J.J.E.) Gibson the architect of the courthouse, finally took the opportunity to visit the site with his family Erin Mason and Thora Mason-Lemons.

Lemons shared his grandfather was able to recount some memory of J.J.E. Gibson from having known him during the time he was six years old. He said his grandfather had some stories still to tell; however, they weren't very elaborate since they were from his childhood

"My grandfather's father kind of ran off during the Depression and left the family behind," said Lemons. "So, he remembered J.J.E. Gibson taking care of them and kind of ways that they helped out, because J.J.E. Gibson's daughter was my grandfather's mother."

Lemons related his grandfather had a very fond memory of J.J.E. Gibson giving him cornbread, which he said wouldn't have been something his grandfather had on a regular basis and was a treat for him.

Sherry Riley, Courthouse Docent, led the tour for the Lemons party through the courthouse. Lemons shared they have been through the area many times on road trips; however, this was the first real opportunity to take the tour of the structure.

"I almost came up here in 1999 with my grandfather, I think they had just done some sort of restoration of some kind and had a big ceremony," said Lemons.

The grave of J.J.E. Gibson in Tenaha was once surrounded by many bricks which had the Gibson stamp on them, and when Lemons visited the site previously with his grandfather there were possibly only remaining at that time. Lemons shared his grandfather remarked there had once been so many bricks at Gibson's grave; however, people took them becasue of their uniqueness. Sadly, when Lemons and his family visited the grave just recently, all of the bricks were gone.

Although the bricks at his grave no longer remain there, those which everyone sees when traveling the Center square around "the Irish castle on the square," remain a testament to J.J.E. Gibson.