The Ellis County Historic Courthouse is one of the only county courthouses in Texas to feature carved faces, and some of them tell a story. Some of the faces carved by Beilharz’s stonemasons are simply reproductions of faces from European cathedrals, while others may represent mythological characters, and still others might be caricatures of the workers themselves; whatever the stonemasons imagined, they were free to carve. Thus, it should come as no surprise that at least one of these faces depicts a lovely young woman who had captured the heartstrings of the man who carved it. At the beginning of the tour, you will remember that the “mustache man” at the Southwest Entrance potentially depicted Harry Herley, an Englishman who allegedly became entangled with a Waxahachie belle. There is no proof that the story is true – and in fact, research would suggest that Mr. Herley never met the woman in question – but nevertheless, folklore has a greater tendency than truth to become legend.

     Allegedly, Herley fell in love with Mabel Frame, the loveliest young lady in Waxahachie, while staying at the boarding house managed by her family. Herley is said to have carved this face of Mabel in hopes of winning her affections. Unfortunately for Herley, Mabel rejected these advances, and feeling spiteful, Herley came back and carved a second face of his former love – the one on the other column, facing toward the street, which appears to depict Mabel as a witch. Likewise, the face on the first column, which also faces the street, may represent the way Herley felt upon being rejected.

     In truth, Herley probably carved the faces in Dallas and sent them to Waxahachie by rail, making it unlikely that he would have ever met Mabel Frame. Additionally, Mabel was only a teenager at the time, and although teenage girls would often be married in those days, an age difference such as that between Harry and Mabel was still frowned upon, just as it would be today. What is more likely is that Mabel’s reputation as the loveliest young woman in town led to speculation and rumors that some of the female faces on the new courthouse might depict her, and the faces were later traced back to Herley – perhaps by Mabel herself, who assuredly found the rumors to exist along the fine line between scandal and humor. Regardless of whether the legend is true, Mabel Frame’s name was immortalized as a Waxahachie legend. To this day, the Waxahachie Chamber of Commerce gives out the Mabel Frame Award to individuals and organizations that “attract” tourists to the city (if one can appreciate the subtle pun), and Mabel Frame dolls (at least one of which can be seen in the Ellis County Museum) used to be sold locally as souvenirs for little girls. Additionally, county employees who work late at night in the courthouse and claim to experience paranormal activity often attribute their experiences to a ghost named “Mabel,” or alternatively, “Myrtle.”