Saturday, July 18 Market Day on the Old Blanco County Courthouse Square will feature Harvey Trahan, a well known member of Zydeco Blanco, sharing the joy of his music with shoppers and vendors. Harvey’s guitar and harmonica music will include Cajun as well as a wide variety of other rich rhythms.

Visitors can stroll the grounds to shop for a number of craft items including candles, wooden bowls, various types of jewelry, furniture, bags and other accessories, and paintings. Lemonade will be available to combat the scorching July temperatures.

Inside the Old Courthouse visitors can escape the hot sun, browse Visitor Center items, enjoy the OBCCPS historic picture collection, and tour the old courtroom. Bidding farewell to Old Courthouse/Market Day manager Lesley Griffin will be in order, as she is moving to San Antonio.

The monthly Market Day is a fund-raising project of the Old Blanco County Courthouse Preservation Society. The Society, commonly known as OBCCPS, was organized by concerned local residents in 1986 to “save the courthouse” from the then-owner’s plan to tear down and move it.

And save it they did – to the extent that the Courthouse and its grounds are now owned and maintained by OBCCPS, a nonprofit corporation owned by its members. A bake sale start of funding progressed to include loans, grants, annual galas, private donations, office rentals, special occasion rentals, and Market Day.

OBCCPS has partially restored the historic building and maintains the building without any public funding – no tax money flows to the corporation to benefit Blanco’s historic architectural treasure.

To many new residents and even some long-timers, the Courthouse is a bit of a mystery. For the full story of this magnificent building, its history and its future, come to the OBCCPS Visitor Center Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00am to 3:00pm. Restoration is an ongoing project and funds are always needed and welcome. Exterior painting and landscaping are current priority items.

Any member of the public can join OBCCPS and become a member owner for annual dues of $20; annual business memberships are $100.

OBCCPS maintains a website of Old Courthouse facts and lore at www.historicblanco.org.