Pitkin County Courthouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Pitkin County Courthouse
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South elevation, 2010
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 Location in Colorado
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| Location | Aspen, CO |
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| Built | 1890 |
| Architect | William Quayle |
| Architectural style | Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 75000531 |
| Added to NRHP | May 12, 1975 |
The Pitkin County Courthouse is an important building in Aspen, Colorado, United States. It is located on East Main Street. This large brick building was built in the late 1800s. It serves as the main office for Pitkin County's courts and other government groups, including the Aspen police.
The courthouse is a well-known landmark in Aspen. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. Like many courthouses, it has a statue of Lady Justice out front. What makes this statue special is that she does not wear a blindfold. In recent years, as Aspen became a popular place for famous people, the courthouse has been part of some well-known legal cases.
The Courthouse Building
The courthouse is on the north side of the block between Galena and Hunter streets. It is closer to Galena Street. Across the street is an open area near St. Mary's Catholic Church. Other buildings, like the Pitkin County Library, are nearby. The Hotel Jerome is two blocks west, and Aspen City Hall is one block away. The ground around the building slopes slightly towards the Roaring Fork River to the north.
The courthouse is a two-story brick building. It sits on a stone foundation, which means the basement is partly above ground. There's a low iron fence in front, with a red cobblestone sidewalk. Small trees and bushes decorate the area. Two large evergreen trees stand on either side of the courthouse. A newer addition, which holds the jail, is located at the back of the building.
The front of the building has 13 sections, called bays. The main entrance area sticks out from the rest of the building. The bricks are laid in a pattern called stretcher bond. Stone bands run along the building, forming the bottom and top edges of the windows on the first floor. These windows are tall and narrow.
The windows on the second floor are also arched. The middle window of the main entrance area, and the windows on the side sections, are grouped together under one larger arch. Above these windows is a wide, flat wooden band. This is topped by a decorative edge with small block-like details.
The top of the middle section has a triangular shape, called a pediment. It has a rounded window and the same decorative edge. Other parts of the building have small wooden walls with carved panels. The roof is gently sloped and has two chimneys. A tall tower stands behind the front entrance.
The tower has four parts. The lowest part is plain wood. The next two parts have pairs of windows, similar to those on the building. The top part of the tower has a pointed shingled roof with small decorative windows.
At the entrance, stone steps lead up to a small, steeply gabled area. This part is made of rough stone blocks. On top of this is a shiny zinc statue of Lady Justice. She is shown without the blindfold that is usually seen on her. Large wooden double doors with an arched window above them lead into the building.
Courthouse History
Building the Courthouse
In the 1880s, Aspen grew very quickly. It went from a small mining camp to a city with over 10,000 people. This happened because of the Colorado Silver Boom. Pitkin County was created in 1881. It was named after Governor Frederick Walker Pitkin. At first, there was a small courthouse, but by 1890, a bigger one was needed. The county bought land for the new building in May 1890.
There was a lot of discussion about building the new courthouse. Some people thought there was corruption involved. But the county leaders decided to go ahead with the project. They chose William Quayle, an architect from Denver, to design the building. The courthouse was finished and opened in early 1891.
The six-foot tall statue of Lady Justice was made in Salem, Ohio. It cost $250 at the time. This statue is special because it is one of the few in the United States that shows Lady Justice without a blindfold.
The statue is silvery, which reminds people of the silver mining that made Aspen rich. No one knows for sure why the blindfold was left off. Some people joke that the county leaders wanted Justice to be able to see what was happening. Another idea is that the miners, who used to settle their own disagreements, wanted to show that justice in Aspen could be fair without being hidden. They paid for the statue themselves and wanted her to have scales, which measure things fairly.
Work on the courthouse began in July 1890. It was completed and opened in January 1891. Everyone celebrated it as a big achievement for the town. Newspapers wrote long, praising articles. Many politicians gave speeches, and a big party was held that night.
Later Years
After 1893, Aspen's population went down. This happened when a law called the Sherman Silver Purchase Act was cancelled. But the courthouse kept working as the center of government. It was used and kept in good condition even during Aspen's "quiet years" in the early 1900s, when the population dropped.
After World War II, skiing helped Aspen become popular again. The courthouse continued to be an important part of the city's changes.
By 2010, the courthouse had been updated. However, it still wasn't big enough for very large crowds. In 2009, actor Charlie Sheen had a legal case there. The city and county had to limit how many people could be in the courtroom. The judge said that only 60 people could attend the hearings. This was because of the building's age and size.
