White Pine County Courthouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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White Pine County Courthouse
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White Pine County Courthouse
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 Location in Nevada
Location in the United States
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| Location | Campton St., Ely, Nevada |
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| Built | 1908 |
| Architect | Beardslee, George T.; Et al. |
| Architectural style | Italianate, Italianate Survival |
| NRHP reference No. | 86001958 |
| Added to NRHP | September 11, 1986 |
The White Pine County Courthouse is an important building in Ely, Nevada. It was built in 1908 in White Pine County. This historic building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.
By 2017, plans began for a new courthouse. This was because of safety concerns with the old building. Construction on the new courthouse started in 2019. Once the new one is finished, the old courthouse will be used for other county offices.
Contents
What Does the White Pine County Courthouse Look Like?
The White Pine County Courthouse is a two-story building. It is made of stone and has an Italianate style. This means it looks a bit like old Italian buildings. On top, it has a small dome made of copper.
The courthouse sits on a hill near the main part of Ely. Close by, you can find the city's middle school, library, and a park. There is also a special plaque in front of the courthouse. It remembers 35 people from White Pine County who died during World War I.
How Was the Courthouse Built?
The courthouse was built in 1908. Before this, there was a temporary wooden courthouse. That one replaced an even older building that burned down in 1885. A big boom in copper mining helped the county pay for this strong, new building.
The courthouse was designed by George T. Beardslee. R.E. Dodson and G.W. Weller built it for about $49,688. Later, in 1925, a two-story jail was added to the back.
The building became part of the National Register of Historic Places on September 11, 1986. In 2004, a seating area was added outside. By 2005, the inside got new paint and carpet.
Why Was a New Courthouse Needed?
Over the years, the old courthouse faced some safety challenges. By the mid-1960s, the jail and sheriff's office inside were not considered secure enough. In 1966, people suggested building a new courthouse. This new building would be part of a larger group of government buildings.
In 1967, the county leaders liked the idea of a new courthouse. However, the project did not happen because of worries about its size and cost. Later, in 1976, a Public Safety building opened elsewhere in Ely. This new building housed the jail and sheriff's offices.
What Were the Safety Concerns?
In 2005, a plan to fund an $11 million new court building was not approved. In 2006, county leaders voted to hire two bailiffs for the courthouse. A bailiff is like a security guard in a courtroom. This idea came from Judge Dan L. Papez, who worked in the building. Before this, police officers sometimes worked as bailiffs.
Judge Papez also mentioned that some people who had committed serious crimes were brought to the courthouse from Ely State Prison. The local newspaper, The Ely Times, wrote about the security. It said that security was often not very good. There was a metal detector upstairs, but many doors stayed unlocked. People could also use an elevator to avoid the metal detector. Judge Papez planned to lock all entrances except the main one during the day.
In 2007, Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons visited the courthouse. He agreed that a new $14 million court complex was needed. State money was required for a new courthouse. Lawmakers worried if the county could pay for future costs. To help with this, the county planned to set aside $4 million for the new building's daily operations.
In March 2007, Nevada Supreme Court Chief Justice William Maupin called the courthouse "one of the most dangerous locations in this state." He noted that people on trial could be very close to the jury. Governor Gibbons included $6.5 million for a new court facility in his budget. However, state lawmakers reduced this to $1.5 million for security upgrades at the current courthouse. Later, in June 2007, some lawmakers removed all funding for the courthouse.
In October 2007, the United States Marshals Service studied the building. They said the location was not good. They also said the building could never meet basic security rules. Court meetings were held in the small basement, which had no emergency exit. Pipes and wires were also visible. The report suggested finding a different location for the courthouse. It warned that a serious security problem could put local residents and middle school children nearby in danger.
The courthouse stayed open because there were no other court buildings in the county. In 2010, Judge Papez said security had improved. He and his team were working to make it even safer. In March 2010, the court banned visitors from carrying weapons inside.
Plans for a New Justice Center
By 2017, plans for a new court complex were moving forward. It would be built next to the Public Safety building in Ely. The new courthouse was needed because of the ongoing safety concerns at the old one. District and Justice Court trials were still held there.
The first floor of the old courthouse had county offices. Justice Court meetings were still in the basement. The close distance between the jury and people on trial was still a worry. The county asked the Nevada Legislature for $10 million to help fund a new court and jail facility. The total cost was expected to be $25 million to $30 million.
District Attorney Mike Wheable spoke about the safety concerns. He said that people on trial might not have much to lose. He also pointed out that children from the middle school were nearby. There were also families at the library and seniors at the Senior Center. Meanwhile, armed security teams were sometimes around the courthouse. Ely Mayor Melody VanCamp said the old building was in such bad shape that it was not worth trying to make it safe for trials.
In June 2017, no action was taken on the funding request. This left the White Pine County Commission to decide between fixing the old courthouse or the city's jail. In September 2017, the USDA Rural Development agency approved a $9 million loan. This loan would help pay for a new justice center, including a 38,000 sq ft (3,500 m2) courthouse. The project was expected to cost $17.7 million. Construction was planned for 2018. The old courthouse would become county administrative offices after the new one was done.
In April 2019, the county asked the state for $10 million more. This was to help build the new justice facility. It was expected to be finished between December 2019 and September 2021. The state approved $5 million for the new two-floor building in June 2019. A special ceremony to start construction was held on September 24, 2019.
Images for kids
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White Pine County Courthouse
- Photographs of the White Pine County Courthouse at the National Park Service's NRHP database
