Editor's note: This column was originally published in March 2022.

QUESTION: There used to be several wrought iron benches on the grounds of the Gregg County Courthouse. They recently disappeared.

According to a friend, those benches were built before World War II by the then-Gregg County Pct.1 blacksmith in the barn and shop that was on McCann Road near the city cemetery. The reason he is interested in their whereabouts is that the blacksmith who built the benches was his grandfather

He would dearly like to have one of those benches as a remembrance of his grandfather.

ANSWER: Gregg County Judge Bill Stoudt knew exactly the benches you’re talking about, and he told me the county still has them. The benches, however, will not be returning to the courthouse lawn.

Obviously, they’ve b

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