Benton County Courthouse (Oregon) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Benton County Courthouse
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The building's exterior in 2006
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| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 416: Malformed coordinates value. | |
| Location | NW 4th St. between Jackson and Monroe Sts., Corvallis, Oregon |
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| Area | 1.3 acres (0.53 ha) |
| Built | 1888 |
| Architect | Delos D. Neer |
| Architectural style | Italianate, High Victorian Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 78002278 |
| Added to NRHP | January 30, 1978 |
The Benton County Courthouse is a special building in Corvallis, Benton County, in the state of Oregon. It was built in 1888. This courthouse is known as the oldest county courthouse in Oregon that is still used for its original purpose. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's an important historical site.
Contents
History of the Courthouse
Building the Courthouse
The Benton County Courthouse has a basement and four floors. These floors hold offices for the county government and rooms where court cases are heard.
When the courthouse was built in 1888, a huge clock was placed in its tall spire. You can see this clock from all four sides of the building. For many years, until 1953, someone had to wind the clock by hand. A building worker would climb into the tower twice a week to lift 650 pounds of weights! These weights kept the clock working. In 1953, things got easier when a small electric motor was added. This motor now lifts the weights automatically.
What the Building is Used For
The basement of the courthouse has always been home to the Benton County Elections Department. This department is in charge of elections. They store ballot boxes and original ballots there after each local election. This is important for keeping election records safe.
Heating System Changes in 1918
After about 30 years, the courthouse's first heating system started to wear out. This was a steam heating system. In 1918, a new hot water heating system was put in. Only the original boiler was kept. The new system used a modern way of connecting pipes. The heating upgrade was finished that same fall.
Big Changes in 1954
In 1954, the courthouse got a major makeover. The large circuit courtroom was divided into two smaller spaces. These new spaces included a district courtroom, an office for judges, and a meeting room. The main courtroom was also turned around and its ceiling was made lower.
During this 1954 renovation, about 20 old brass spittoons were removed from the hallways and offices. These were replaced with four modern sand urns for people to put out cigarettes.
