New Cordell Courthouse Square Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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New Cordell Courthouse Square Historic District
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 Location in Oklahoma
Location in the United States
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| Location | Roughly bounded by Temple, E. Second, Glenn English, and E. Clay Sts., New Cordell, Oklahoma |
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| Area | 2.8 acres (1.1 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 98001592 |
| Added to NRHP | January 7, 1999 |
The New Cordell Courthouse Square Historic District is a special area in New Cordell, Oklahoma. It's like a time capsule showing the town's early business center. This district grew up around the Washita County Courthouse. The town planned this courthouse spot way back in 1897.
Most of the shops and offices around the courthouse were built between 1900 and 1925. Some newer buildings are also part of this historic area. There are 80 buildings in the district. About 52 of them are "contributing buildings." This means they help tell the story of the district's history. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 7, 1999. This list helps protect important historical places.
Contents
A Town's New Beginning
New Cordell started in 1897. The original town of Cordell actually moved to this new spot. The new town plan included a big open space for a courthouse. People in New Cordell quickly asked to have the county's main office moved there.
Why the Courthouse Moved
New Cordell was in a better spot than the old county seat, Cloud Chief. It was more central for everyone in the county. It also had a better water supply. Because of these reasons, voters chose New Cordell to be the new county seat. The courthouse officially moved there in 1900. After some legal discussions, the United States Congress agreed with the move in 1904.
Growth Around the Square
Moving the courthouse made the area around the square very busy. In 1902, the Bes Line Railroad came through New Cordell. This helped the town's farming economy grow even more. Many new brick buildings were built around the courthouse square. These buildings housed shops, offices, and special businesses. The courthouse you see today is actually the third one for the county. It was built in 1910.
Buildings of the District
The Washita County Courthouse is the most important building in the district. It was designed by Solomon Andrew Layton. Its style is called Classical Revival. This style often uses grand columns and balanced designs, like old Greek and Roman buildings.
Notable Early Structures
Many important buildings were built early on. These included the city hall, Florence Hospital, and an opera house. There were also three banks. Most other business buildings in the district are made of brick. They are built in a style called Commercial Style. This style focuses on practical, sturdy buildings for businesses.
Unique Architectural Styles
You can also find other cool styles in the district. The Mission Revival and Spanish Colonial Revival styles are present. These styles often have features like red tile roofs and stucco walls. A great example is the Cordell Carnegie Public Library on First Street.
Later Additions to the District
In the 1930s and 1940s, more buildings were added. These included the U.S. Post Office, the Washita County Jail, and the New Cordell Fire and Police Station. All three of these were projects from the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The WPA was a government program that created jobs during the Great Depression. These buildings show a style called Moderne. This style uses smooth surfaces and rounded corners, looking very modern for its time.
