Wallowa County Courthouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Wallowa County Courthouse
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Front facade of the Wallowa County Courthouse
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| Location | Enterprise, Oregon, USA |
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| Built | 1909–1910 |
| Architect | Calvin R. Thornton |
| Architectural style | Romanesque revival with Queen Anne style elements |
| NRHP reference No. | 00000805 |
| Added to NRHP | 2000 |
The Wallowa County Courthouse is the main building for the government of Wallowa County. This county is in the northeastern part of Oregon. You can find the courthouse in the town of Enterprise, Oregon.
It was built between 1909 and 1910. The building uses strong, local stone. It is a large, impressive structure with a style called High Victorian. The courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000. Today, it still serves as the center for Wallowa County's government offices.
Contents
History of Wallowa County and its Courthouse
How Wallowa County Started
Wallowa County is in the very northeast corner of Oregon. It shares borders with other counties like Union and Umatilla. It also borders the states of Washington to the north and Idaho to the east. Natural features like the Wallowa Mountains and the Snake River canyon also form its borders.
The first post office in the Wallowa Valley opened in 1874. The town of Lostine was founded in 1875. Later, Joseph was established in 1879. Wallowa County officially became separate from Union County in February 1887. This was the same year the town of Enterprise was founded. Joseph was the first temporary county seat. But in 1888, Enterprise was chosen as the permanent county seat.
Building the Courthouse
At first, the Wallowa County government rented offices. These were on the second floor of a building in Enterprise. In 1898, people suggested building a courthouse. However, county leaders thought renting was cheaper.
Ten years later, officials finally decided to build a permanent courthouse. Local citizens helped by giving $5,000 for the building. But they held onto their money until the building reached the second floor. This made sure the courthouse would actually be built. The people also wanted the total cost to be at least $25,000. They wanted a strong, well-built landmark for their community.
Who Designed and Built It?
Calvin R. Thornton, an architect from La Grande, Oregon, designed the courthouse. S. R. Haworth won the contract to build it for $31,300. Work on the building started in January 1909. Plumbing and heating cost an extra $4,592.
Thornton moved to Enterprise to watch over the building work. Sadly, he died in December 1909. He fell from a scaffold at another job site. So, he never saw the courthouse finished. In March 1910, a local company was hired to provide furniture. This cost $3,183. The courthouse officially opened for business on January 5, 1910. However, the construction was not fully finished until May of that year.
Changes Over Time
Over the years, the courthouse has had some small changes. For example, the original heating system was replaced in 1927. In the 1970s, air conditioning units were added to some windows.
In 1981, aluminum storm doors were put on the front and back entrances. This was done without changing the original wooden doors. A concrete ramp for people with disabilities was also added to the back entrance. Other updates include new walls, carpet, and fluorescent lights.
The Wallowa County Courthouse is special because it still looks much like it did when it was built. It is one of the few early 20th-century government buildings in eastern Oregon that has kept its original style. Because of this, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 14, 2000. Today, the courthouse is still used for its original purpose.
Courthouse Structure and Design
Building Style and Materials
The Wallowa County Courthouse is a large stone building. It stands in the middle of Courthouse Square. The main front of the building faces west. It was built in the High Victorian style. This means it has big stone walls on all four sides.
The building also has some features of the Queen Anne style. These include different roof shapes and patterned shingles. The courthouse has three stories, including an attic that can be used. It also has a full basement. The building is about 92 feet (28 meters) long and 76 feet (23 meters) wide. The very top of the cupola is about 65 feet (20 meters) high.
The outside walls and foundation are made of rough-cut Bowlby stone. This is a type of volcanic rock found locally. The stone walls are very strong and hold up the building. There are stone arches above the windows and main doors. The keystones (top stones) of the arches and the window sills are made of light gray granite.
Windows and Entrances
The courthouse windows are tall and narrow, with wooden frames. They are placed in pairs and are the same on all sides of the building. Some of the original wooden window parts have been replaced. In the 1970s, aluminum storm windows were added over all the windows.
Five windows on the first floor, at the southeast corner, have steel bars. This area used to be the men's jail. There were also barred windows on the northeast corner for the women's jail. But those bars were removed in 1997 when the women's cells became office space.
Concrete steps lead to the front and back entrances. A concrete wheelchair ramp was added at the east entrance in 1981. Both the front and back entrances have double doors. These doors are set back under an arch. They have glass windows with designs. There are also clear glass panels next to the doors and decorative glass above each entrance.
Inside the Building
The basement floor is made of concrete. The first and second floors have wooden beams supporting them. These floors are covered with fir wood boards. The main walls on the first and second floors are made of brick with a plaster finish. Other walls and stairs are made of wood.
The main roof is made of wood. The roof over the courtroom is special. It is held up by two large trusses (support structures). These trusses support a pyramid-shaped ceiling with sunken panels. This ceiling is currently hidden by a modern ceiling. The part of the roof you can see from the street is covered with dark gray tiles. The courthouse also has a white decorative trim made of metal around the edge. There are three brick chimneys on the roof. The cupola on top is made of wood and metal.
Inside the Courthouse
Basement and First Floor Offices
The courthouse has a usable basement, two main floors, and an attic. Originally, offices were on all four floors. Today, the basement, first, and second floors still have offices. The attic is now used for storage.
The basement has a main hallway with stone walls. The walls are finished rough stone. The ceilings are low, and you can see some pipes and wires. A small bathroom is at the north end. Until the 1970s, there was an apartment in the basement for the courthouse caretaker. This person took care of the building and cooked for prisoners. The mechanical room has an old steam boiler and a new one. The new boiler heats the building using the original radiator system. A separate outside entrance to the basement was added in the 1960s.
The public enters the courthouse on the first floor. The main entrance doors open to a wide hallway. This hallway goes all the way to the back entrance. Another hallway crosses it, dividing the first floor into four sections. The hallway ceiling is 10 feet (3 meters) high. Stairs at each end of the cross hallway lead to the basement and the second floor. Most of the office doors are original. There are bathrooms at both ends of the main hallway.
The county clerk's office is in the northwest section of the first floor. This area includes the main office, a research room, and a vault for important documents. The sheriff's office is in the northeast section. It has offices for the sheriff and deputies, plus a reception area. The women's jail used to be in the northeast corner. But in 1997, the cells were removed and it became office space.
The men's jail and the treasurer's office are in the southeast section. The original jail cells are still there. But they are only used for holding prisoners temporarily. The treasurer's office has a main office and a reception area. The southwest section has offices for the Veteran's Administration and the county assessor.
Second Floor and Courtroom
The second floor has one hallway that runs north to south. Offices are on the west side of this hall. The county's courtroom and court offices are on the east side. There is a small bathroom at each end of the hall.
The offices on the west side include those for the county commissioners and county administration. There are also offices for the district attorney, a jury room, and a children's services office. On the east side is the large courtroom. It has a double-door entrance and six windows opposite the entrance.
An oak balustrade (a low barrier) divides the courtroom into two parts. This separates the judge, lawyers, and jury from the public seating area. The public area has wooden bookshelves around it. The jury box has 12 oak chairs. The judge's and lawyers' desks are made of oak and are original to the courthouse. The courtroom used to have a special ceiling with sunken panels. But it is now covered by a modern ceiling. The court offices are three connected rooms: a reception office, an administrative office, and the judge's chambers. The judge's chambers are in the northeast corner of the building.
Attic Use
The stairs to the attic are at the south end of the second-floor hall. This stairway was open at first. But a door was added in 1981 to control who could go up. The attic was once used for offices. However, these offices closed in the 1970s because there were not enough fire exits. Now, the attic is only used for storage. The part of the attic above the courtroom has a huge system of trusses. These trusses support the courtroom's original special ceiling. The attic's windows were built to look good from the outside, not to let in a lot of light.
Courthouse Square
Location and Landscaping
The Wallowa County Courthouse is located at 101 South River Street in Enterprise, Oregon. The courthouse is surrounded by an area called Courthouse Square. This square covers one city block, which is about 1.3 acres (0.53 hectares). The courthouse faces west toward South River Street. East Main Street borders the north side of the square. First Street is behind the courthouse to the east. East Greenwood Street borders the south side.
Originally, deciduous trees (trees that lose their leaves) surrounded the courthouse. These were replaced in 1925 with spruce trees. The spruce trees were removed in 1989 after a storm damaged some of them. New trees were planted, including oak, pine, maple, linden, juniper, and flowering crab apple trees. There are also rose bushes planted on the north, west, and south sides of the courthouse.
There is a wooden gazebo in the northeast corner of Courthouse Square. It is about 20 by 24 feet (6.1 by 7.3 meters). The Rotary Club of Wallowa County built this gazebo in 1986. It stands in the same spot as an older gazebo built around 1900. The old gazebo was removed at some point, but it can be seen in old photos taken after the courthouse was built.
Memorials and Tributes
There are several memorials around Courthouse Square. In the northwest corner, there is a concrete arch. This arch honors the early pioneers of Wallowa County who arrived in the 1870s.
The local American Legion group placed a large granite boulder in front of the courthouse in 1925. This boulder weighs about 7710 kilograms (8.5 tons). A bronze plaque is on the boulder. It lists the names of Wallowa County men who died in World War I. In 1985, two more plaques were added. These honor those who died in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.
A World War I field gun was placed in the square in 1926. However, this gun was melted down during World War II to help the war effort. It was replaced in 1947 with a World War II Howitzer. This new gun honors all American veterans. A "Fountain of Honor" was dedicated on July 9, 2011. It honors all veterans of the United States armed forces.
Images for kids
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Wallowa County Courthouse main entrance
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Courthouse Square surrounds the courthouse building
