Spokane County Courthouse

Last updated
Spokane County Courthouse
SpokaneCountyCourthouse 2017 0304.jpg
Location Map United States Spokane.png
Red pog.svg
Location1116 W. Broadway, Spokane, Washington
Coordinates 47°39′53″N117°25′43″W / 47.66472°N 117.42861°W / 47.66472; -117.42861
Built1894–1895
Built byDavid B. Fotheringham
Architect Willis Ritchie
Architectural styleFrench Renaissance
NRHP reference No. 74001980 [1]
Added to NRHPJanuary 21, 1974

The Spokane County Courthouse is a government building home to numerous Spokane County offices such as those of the assessor, auditor and clerk, as well as courtrooms for the Spokane County Superior Court. [2]

Contents

The courthouse was built in 1895 in the French Renaissance revival and Châteauesque styles, and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. A design contest prior to construction was won by architect Willis Ritchie. It is located in the city center, just north of the Spokane River from Downtown Spokane, in the West Central neighborhood. The courthouse is situated front and center on a nine square block campus that includes most of the county's offices as well as the Spokane Police Department headquarters. [3] The nearly nine story central tower rises well above the surrounding buildings on the north bank of the river, and has helped make the courthouse a landmark in Spokane since its construction. [4]

History

The courthouse ca. 1890s Image from page 18 of "The city beautiful Spokane, Wash-ington-" (1890) (14766294981).jpg
The courthouse ca. 1890s

Ground was broken on the site in 1893, on land donated nearly a decade earlier by settler David P. Jenkins, and the courthouse project was envisioned to be a way to help the then nascent city of Spokane recover from the Panic of 1893 financial downturn. The location chosen was controversial, but also a compromise. Spokane's business community hoped to locate the courthouse in the central business district of the city, which was located on the south side of the river. Rural communities in Spokane County advocated for a more rural location, and even threatened to secede and form a new county if a satisfactory site was not chosen. At the time, the north bank of the Spokane River was largely undeveloped, which appeased the rural communities, but also well-connected to the business district just across the river. [5]

South face from the courthouse lawn Spo Co Courthouse 1.png
South face from the courthouse lawn

Also in 1893 the Board of County Commissioners for Spokane County held a design contest, soliciting plans for a fire-proof masonry building that could be constructed for no more than $250,000. Twenty-nine-year-old architect Willis A. Ritchie's submission was selected, and Ritchie was awarded 5% of the cost of construction. A design from prolific Spokane architect Kirtland Cutter took second place, netting Cutter a not-insignificant $500 runner-up prize. [5]

Construction began on Ritchie's design in the spring of 1894 under the leadership of contractor David B. Fotheringham. The building was completed by November of 1895, but the construction process was not entirely lacking in delays or controversies. Prior to construction, the plan was criticized for being too expensive and extravagant to build during an economic depression. In March of 1895, construction was brought to a halt due to a disagreement between Richie and the superintendent of construction. [4] Ritchie was asked to resign by the Board of County Commissioners as charges of fraud and swindling were leveled against him, but Ritchie refused. The charges were the subject of a grand jury investigation, which found, "we have sifted these charges thoroughly, find them untrue, malicious and wicked, having been made by parties who must have known differently, and made for the purpose of misleading the people generally, and this surely and particular. Hard times, prejudice and disappointment must have been at the root of the matter. We find the courthouse to be one of the most substantial and well-built offices in this or any other state, and built in accordance with the plans and specifications, excepting changes that were duly authorized. We find no evidence of boodle or corruption and we believe there has been none." [5] Construction resumed, and on November 20, 1895 the building opened and officials moved in. [2]

Original 1895 iron gate from the jail yard, restored in 2017 Spo Co Courthouse Iron Gate.png
Original 1895 iron gate from the jail yard, restored in 2017

In its early years the courthouse was the site of multiple hangings and a homicide. [6] In 1896, attorney Lou H. Plattor was shot on the building's second floor by Henry Siefert, who claimed to be acting in self-defense. Seifert was charged with murder, but later acquitted. [5] One notable hanging was that of George Webster on March 30, 1900. Webster was charged with first-degree murder, but had significant public support for his clemency, with a petition garnering more than 6,000 signatures, though it would not be granted. Webster was the first white man, though far from the first person, to be hung at the courthouse. He was also the last before the state moved all executions to the state penitentiary in Walla Walla. [7]

To keep up with growth in the county, an expansion of the courthouse campus was undertaken in 1953 when the public health building immediately north of the courthouse was destroyed and replaced by a four story courthouse annex building. The main building underwent a significant renovation project in 2006. Structural work was done on bricks, balconies and the roof, while restoration work was done on the decorative elements. The entire original slate roof was also replaced, which required surrounding the building in scaffolding as the more than 100 year old roof could not be touched. The project cost approximately $2 million and was intended to last for 100 years. [5]

Architecture

The main entrance facade Spokane County Courthouse, Spokane, Washington (50082799648).jpg
The main entrance façade

Willis Ritchie's design of the structure displays aspects of the French Renaissance and Romanesque Revival styles. The building has drawn comparisons to the Château d'Azay-le-Rideau and the Château de Chambord in the Loire Valley of France. [2] The central tower, however, does not have an antecedent in the French Renaissance style. It has instead drawn comparisons to the Romanesque Revival Allegheny County Courthouse in Pittsburgh. [8] The decorative aspects of the building's facade include cornices, entablatures, festoons and pilasters of the Composite order. [4]

The building is a masonry structure that is load-bearing with dry-pressed bricks. It was one of the first buildings in Spokane to be built with locally manufactured bricks, from the Washington Brick and Lime Company, rather than ones shipped in from the east. [4] The H-shaped building has conical towers on the corners of each arm. These, along with the high center tower with its long pilasters, help emphasize verticality on the otherwise bulky structure. [9]

A steep, Mansard-style slate roof tops the main, bulky, H-shaped structure, as well as the central and corner towers. The corner towers are topped with spires while the central tower has a flagpole. [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dubuque County Courthouse</span> United States historic place

The Dubuque County Courthouse is located on Central Avenue, between 7th and 8th Streets, in Dubuque, Iowa, United States. The current structure was built from 1891 to 1893 to replace an earlier building. These are believed to be the only two structures to house the county courts and administrative offices.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Downtown Spokane</span> Central business district of Spokane in Washington, United States

Downtown Spokane or Riverside is the central business district of Spokane, Washington. The Riverside neighborhood is roughly bounded by I-90 to the south, Division Street to the east, Monroe Street to the west and Boone Avenue to the north. The topography of Downtown Spokane is mostly flat except for areas downstream of the Spokane Falls which are located in a canyon; the elevation is approximately 1,900 feet (580 m) above sea level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ashtabula County Courthouse Group</span> Local government building in the United States

Ashtabula County Courthouse Group is a registered historic district in Jefferson, Ohio, listed in the National Register in 1975.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geauga County Courthouse</span> Local government building in the United States

The Geauga County Courthouse is located at 100 Short Court Street in Chardon, Ohio. The cornerstone was laid September 10, 1869 and construction was completed on August 20, 1870. The courthouse was listed on the National Register in 1974 as part of the Chardon Courthouse Square District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crawford County Courthouse (Ohio)</span> Local government building in the United States

The Courthouse of Crawford County, Ohio, is a landmark of the county seat, Bucyrus, Ohio. The courthouse was built in 1854 on East Mansfield Street by architect Harlan Jones and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on 1985-02-28 as a part of the Bucyrus Commercial Historic District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Customhouse (Houston)</span> Historic building in Houston, Texas, U.S.

The United States Customhouse is a historic custom house located at Houston in Harris County, Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clermont County Courthouse</span> Local government building in the United States

The Clermont County Courthouse is located at 270 East Main Street in Batavia, Ohio. It was built by the Works Progress Administration and opened in 1936.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Llano County Courthouse and Jail</span> United States historic place

The Llano County Courthouse and Jail were erected separately, but added to the National Register of Historic Places in Texas on December 2, 1977 as one entry. The courthouse, located in the middle of Llano's historic square, was built in 1893. The exterior is made of sandstone, marble, and granite. The interior of the courthouse was damaged by fire in 1932 and again in 1951. It is still in use today by local government. The jail was erected in 1895, with the prisoner cells on the second and third floors, and the ground level solely for the office and living accommodations for the sheriff and his family. The jail was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark 1979, Marker 9448. The courthouse was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark 1980, Marker number 9446.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Decatur County Courthouse (Iowa)</span> United States historic place

The Decatur County Courthouse, located in Leon, Iowa, United States, was built in 1908. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981 as a part of the County Courthouses in Iowa Thematic Resource. The courthouse is the sixth building the county has used for court functions and county administration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Delaware County Courthouse (Iowa)</span> United States historic place

The Delaware County Courthouse, located in Manchester, Iowa, United States, was built in 1894. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981 as a part of the County Courthouses in Iowa Thematic Resource. The current structure is the fourth building to house court functions and county administration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dickinson County Courthouse (Iowa)</span> Courthouse in Iowa, United States

The Dickinson County Courthouse is located in Spirit Lake, Iowa, United States. Built in two phases in 2006 and 2009, it is the fourth building to house court functions and county administration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lamoille County Courthouse</span> United States historic place

The Lamoille County Courthouse is located at 154 Main Street in Hyde Park, the shire town of Lamoille County, Vermont. Built in 1912 to a design by Burlington architect Zachary Taylor Austin (1850–1910), it is a good example of Romanesque and Colonial Revival architecture. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yavapai County Courthouse</span> United States historic place

The Yavapai County Courthouse is located at 120 South Cortez Street in Prescott, Arizona. The current courthouse building was built in 1916. It was designed by architect William N. Bowman (1868–1944) and it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. It is also known for its statue of Bucky O'Neill, a Rough Rider and former Mayor of Prescott. Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater announced his presidential candidacy in 1964 from the steps of the courthouse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Riverside Avenue Historic District</span> Historic district in Washington, United States

The Riverside Avenue Historic District is a 16.5 acres (6.7 ha) historic district in Downtown Spokane, Washington consisting of buildings constructed in the early 20th century, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. The listing includes 14 contributing properties, nine of which are considered primary and five are considered secondary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clark County Courthouse (Illinois)</span> Local government building in the United States

The Clark County Courthouse is a government building in Marshall, the county seat of Clark County, Illinois, United States. Completed in 1903, it is the fifth courthouse in the third community in Clark County's history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Architecture of Spokane, Washington</span> Overview of the architecture in Spokane, Washington

Spokane and its neighborhoods contain a patchwork of architectural styles that give them a distinct identity and illustrate the changes throughout the city's history. Spokane has a rich architectural history for a western city of its size and much of it is a product of its circumstances at the turn of the 20th century when as a rapidly growing city, the Great Fire of 1889 destroyed 32 blocks of the city center which was quickly rebuilt in a more grand fashion by a community flush with money coming from regional mining districts. Many of the architects that found work in the city and building on the blank slate of the downtown commercial district became highly esteemed architects such as Kirtland Cutter, who has been credited with giving the city a distinctive character. In particular, the city has a high concentration of Romanesque Revival style institutional and commercial buildings and American Craftsman bungalow residences. The architecture of Spokane gained national recognition in industry publications in the early 20th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spokane Flour Mill</span> United States historic place

The Spokane Flour Mill, commonly known as the Flour Mill among locals, is a historic building in Downtown, Spokane, Washington located adjacent to the Spokane Falls on the river's north bank. The building was constructed in 1895 and designed by the Edward P. Allis company. The Flour Mill served as a flour mill from 1900 until 1972; it was converted into offices and a retail mall in advance of Spokane hosting the 1974 World's Fair, and has continued to serve those purposes since. As of 2022, the Flour Mill is home to offices, restaurants and shops.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Schade Brewery</span> United States historic place

Schade Brewery, commonly known as Schade Towers, is a historic building in the University District section of the East Central neighborhood of Spokane, Washington. It was built in 1902, with additional construction taking place in 1903, 1907 and between 1934 and 1937. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 1994. Built to house a brewery, the building has seen numerous uses over its century-plus in existence ranging from serving as housing for vagrants while abandoned, to its present use as commercial and office space.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Steam Heat Plant</span> United States historic place

The Central Steam Heat Plant, commonly known as Steam Plant Square, or simply as the Steam Plant, is a historic building in Downtown, Spokane, Washington. Originally built to provide steam heating to more than 300 buildings in Spokane's city center, the Steam Plant served that purpose until the 1980s, when it was no longer viable. In the 1990s, the Steam Plant and adjacent Seehorn-Lang Building were converted into Steam Plant Square, a commercial, retail and restaurant center. The conversion maintained many of the industrial steam plant structures such as furnaces, boilers, catwalks and pipe networks, which can still be seen and explored by visitors and patrons. The Steam Plant's pair of 225 foot tall stacks have been a unique and iconic aspect of the city's skyline for more than a century, and are illuminated from their base at night. If the stacks were considered to be a building, they would rank as the third tallest in the city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beezer Brothers</span> American architects (1869-c. 1930)

The Beezer Brothers were American architects active from the late 19th-century to the Great Depression. They were twins, who practiced together in western Pennsylvania before moving to Seattle, Washington in 1907 to participate in the city's rapid growth brought on by the Klondike Gold Rush. Best known for the many Catholic churches they designed, they also worked on domestic residences and municipal buildings. Their work on the west coast, while concentrated in Seattle, can be found from Los Angeles to San Francisco to Alaska, and inland to Montana. At least one church and two buildings are individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and several other buildings are contributing properties to several different National Historic Districts.

References

  1. "NPGallery Asset Detail". npgallery.nps.gov. National Park Service. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 Mahoney, Jaime. "Spokane County Courthouse". spokanehistorical.org. Eastern Washington University. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  3. "Locations & Campus Information". spokanecounty.org. Spokane County. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Rice, Jaime L. (15 January 2019). "Spokane County Courthouse". sah-archipedia.org. Society of Architectural Historians. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "Courthouse History". spokanecounty.org. Spokane County. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  6. Deshais, Nicholas (12 October 2018). "Capital punishment in Spokane: A history". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  7. McClary, Daryl C. "George Webster is hanged for first-degree murder at Spokane County Courthouse on March 30, 1900". historylink.org. HistoryLink. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  8. "Courts of Washington, Spokane County, Courthouse #2, West Central, Spokane, WA". pcad.lib.washington.edu. Pacific Coast Architecture Database. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  9. 1 2 "NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM". npgallery.nps.gov. National Park Service. Retrieved 26 June 2022.