
Why “V” Instead of “U” is Used on County Courthouses
While Jon McConal was writing columns for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, he was asked why the letter V instead of the letter U is sometimes inscribed on county courthouses. Not knowing the answer, McConal asked his readers for information.

Eloise Lane

Eloise Lane
John Rollins of Southlake wrote: We can thank the ancient Romans for the fact that we have covnty covrthouses’ instead of `county houses’ The alphabet that most of the world uses today was developed by the ancient Romans, except that it did not contain J, U or W as separate letters. “This situation changed in medieval times, when the consonant value of I became its own letter. 3 and V was divided into U, V and W. Hence, ILIVS means Julius, and as you have guessed COVNTY is how the Romans would have spelled county. “This is yet another one of the endless examples of Roman influences on Western language, architecture, law and culture.
And to think that some people called Latin a dead language.” This explanation came from Ken Bickley of Mineral Wells: “According to my ancient Britanica, the two letters were interchangeable in Latin, and the letter U didn’t actually come into wide-spread use in English until the 18th century. Old Latin used V for capitals and U for lower case. Thus all Roman buildings were inscribed with V in place of U. Texas courthouses designed in the neoclassical style used the V. I suppose it’s sort of an affectation, but it suits the building.”
Pampa has another building on which the name was inscribed with V instead of U. Constructed about the same time as GRAY COVNTY COVRT HOVSE, the ROSE BVILDING at 2Q~. North Cuyler was for many years the location of J. C. Penney, and there were offices on the second floor. The original inscription of the name of the building on Cuyler has been covered, but it is still visible over the entrance on Kingsmill. Jon McConal It’s covrt house with a V Wally, and here’s why Hey, Wally, I’ve found out 1. 1 why the letter V is being inscribed on county courthouses Instead of the letter U. Wally (Wally Nita of Haltom City) raised that question recently.
He said he has traveled many miles photographing 140 of. Texas’ 254 county courthouses. “I got the idea when I was in the ~seventh grade,” he said. “I thought how neat it would be to Visit all of the counties in the State. At the time we were study- ing them, I think only two people had done that.” That sent him on his trek around Texas to county Court- houses. And in his travels, he made a discovery. “On a bunch of courthouses, the inscription of county is covn- ty, `he said. “Do you know why this is?” Well, I didn’t.
But a bunch of readers did. John Rollins of Southlake wrote: “We can thank the ancient Romans for the fact that we have `covnty covrthous- es’ instead of `county courthous- es.’ The alphabet that most of the world uses today was developed by the ancient Romans, except that it did not contain J, U or W as separate letters. “This situation changed in medieval times, when the consonant value of I became its own letter J and V was divided into U, V and W. .Hence, ILIVS means Julius, and as you have guessed, COVNTY is how the Romans would have spelled county. “This is yet another one of the endless examples of Roman influence on Western language, architecture, law and culture. And to think that some people called Latin a dead language.”
Then came this explanation from Ken Bickley of Mineral Wells: “According to my ancient Brit- tanica, the two letters were inter- changeable in Latin, and the letter (More on McCONAL on Page 4)
McConal From Page 1B
U didn’t actually come into wide- spread use in English until the 18th century. Old Latin used V for capitals and U for lower case. Thus all Roman buildings were inscribed with V in place of U. Texas courthouses designed in the neoclassical style used the V. 1 suppose it’s sort of an affectation, but it suits the building.” A simple answer came from Laura C. Yates, also of Mineral Wells. “Back in what my granddaugh- ters call `The Dark Ages,’ I was told it was easier to carve the `V’ instead of `U.’ Why I don’t know.
My friend Ralph E. Bell of Strawn, whose intelligence awes me, also offered an explana- tion, as well as a word about a woman who recently trashed me for giving a specific location of someone who has kept all of the cars her late husband once owned. She said I had issued an invitation to car thieves. Bell wrote; “To that woman … I say, `Get a life.’ “There are unfortunate souls in this world bereft of any sort of sentiment or feelings for others. whom if given their `druthers’ would have everything neatly pigeonholed and colorless.
“Variety/diversity is the keynote of the universe our heav- enly Father created. “If not, why, then, did he not create one generic genus instead of such a mind-bobbling variety of stars, galaxies, planets, minerals, elements, protozoa plants, animals and indeed, our species I could not have said it better. Jon McConal’s Texas appears Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Over 200 Articles, written by Eloise Lane, were published in the Pampa News. These articles may be accessed by clicking on each section below. A list of articles will be revealed that are linked to a page containing the text of the article.
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Articles 1-20
- Origin Of The "White Deer" Name
- The Log House On White Deer Creek
- Obtaining The Land
- The Lands Organized
- Cattle Brands Tell Story
- Ghosts And All
- Southern Kansas Railroad
- Fire Guard Dam
- When The Railroad Came
- The Sutton RR Station
- Post Office At Pampa
- The Bell Family
- J.C. Short
- Pampa 1892-1902
- Pampa Laid Out In 1902
- Crystal Palace Founded
- Gray County Organization
- Organization - Continued
- Gray County - Lefors
- McLean - The Largest Town
Articles 21-40
- Gouge Eye
- The "Mother Road"
- German Family Reunion
- Desks From Hopkins
- Grandview School Begins
- The Oil Money
- History Wall Painted
- Boydston Or Boydstun?
- Ontario???
- Laketon - Early Farming
- Laketon - Continued
- First Couple To Marry
- Hoover
- Water Well Drilling
- Kingsmills Visit Pampa
- George Tyng Left
- Tragedy In Utah
- T.D. Hobart - Manager
- M.K. Brown Arrives
- Rider Livery Stable
Articles 41-60
- The Pioneer Cottage
- Pampa's First Doctor
- Doctor Makes House Calls
- A Red Cross Nurse
- Pampa's First School
- Hobart Went To London
- Cemetery Began In 1904
- First Business District
- C.P. Buckler Arrives
- Five Barrett Brothers
- Influence Of The Santa Fe
- Trains Still Roll
- John V. Thomass - Teacher
- Cattle-loading Center
- Rolla J. Sailor & Arrowheads
- A.H. Doucette Arrives
- Lands Are Advertised
- The Holland Hotel
- Wheat Left Pampa
- First National Bank Begins
Articles 61-80
- Pampa News Begins
- First Denominational Church
- 2nd Office Of WD Lands
- J.N. Duncan Arrives
- Nels Walberg Sells…
- Dormer Simms
- Fourth Of July Celebrations
- Pampa's First Cars
- Pampa In 1907-08
- J.S. Wynne Family Arrives
- Gray Count State Bank
- Baptist Church Organized (Under Construction)
- Joe & Lizzie Bowers
- Threatened By Prairie Fire
- Library Began In 1907
- J.R. Henry
- Sir Gordan & Lady Cunard
- Three Vicars Brothers
- Dodd Grain And Produce
- December 29, 1991
Articles 81-100
- D.C. Davis Family
- Long Christmas Celebration
- First Christian Church
- Facts About Pampa
- Buster Brown
- The Last Hanging
- Bones Hooks
- The "Red Brick" Is No More
- The Purviances Family
- The Dr. E. von Brunow Park
- Boards Of First Headquarters
- Mary Jane Purvis
- Cook - Adams Addition
- Nativity Scenes
- Clyde Carruth
- The Mine Tragedies
- Additions To Pampa
- Third Family In Pampa
- Frank Dittmeyer
- Bricklayer Indian Jim
Articles 101-120
- A.A. Tiemann
- First Movies And Lights
- Pampa Incorporated
- Mark And Sara Fletcher
- Annie Baker Daniels
- Pampa's Business District
- Birthday Tea Of 1919
- Former Pampa Minister
- John Mack Patton
- The First Brass Band
- Early Graduating Class
- "How We Met"
- F.P. Greever Is Assassinated
- George Tyng's Father
- L.H. & Lula Greene
- John & Lena McKamy
- Robert & Mary Yeager
- "Dear Old PHS"
- Supt. Believed In People
- William A. & Ruth Green
Articles 121-140
- Jason A and Alice Poole
- Wayside School
- Pampa Football Begins
- The Pampa School Building
- Rev. C. E. Lancaster
- Panhandle Lumber Co.
- Will Wilks & Mora Hughey
- An Unusual Valentine
- Charles A. Tignor
- O. A. Barrett
- Poppies In Flanders Fields
- Barnard & Williams Families
- 4th of July Celebrations
- Cuyler Street Underpass
- The King Family
- Kretmeier and Baer Families
- Stephen B. Oates
- Phebe Worley
- Organization of Gray County
- First Courthouse
Articles 141-160
- Pampa Laid Out in 1902
- Pampa in 1902
- W. R. Kaufman
- The Pampa Country Club
- Living In Pampa in 1902
- Pampa Buildings of 1902
- May Foreman Carr
- Scaffers - Early Residents
- Nita Luna
- Former Sub Debs Reminisce
- PHS In 1932
- PHS Appreciated
- The Forth Worth and Denver
- From Pampa to Childress
- The Origination Of "Taps"
- The Warners
- J. C. Studer
- Floyd, John and Otto
- Our American Flag
- Stories and Memories
Articles 161-180
- Museum in Pampa?
- The Franklin Farm
- The Franklin Family
- Beryl Wayne Vicars
- Historian Made Cookies
- The Pioneer Cottage
- The Orginial Swastika
- Library Clerk
- Women's Clothing Store
- Jon and Pat McConal
- Whitey Walker Gang
- How Rudolph Began
- Gwendolen Avenue
- Jerry Kerbow
- Two Paintings
- Second Part - Paintings
- Bones Hooks
- Original Nativity Figures
- Why "V" Instead of "U"
- Pampa Incorporated