Crook County Courthouse is a courthouse located in Prineville, Oregon, United States. The present courthouse, built in 1909, replaced an earlier courthouse built in 1889. In November 2021, voters of Crook County, Oregon approved a bond measure to raise up to $35 million to build a new Justice Center on a different site.
The second Crook County Courthouse was completed in February 1886 at a cost of $5,474.[1] The contractor was H.A. Belknap.
On February 4, 1904, the 1889 courthouse was partially destroyed by fire.[2]
In January 1907, the Crook County Commission let out a contract for construction of a new courthouse at a cost of $50,000.[3] The contract went to the Prineville Construction Company.[3]The building was to be paid for with $43,500 from the county, and $6,500 raised by a subscription from the citizens of [[Prineville, Oregon|Prineville].[3]
The new Crook County Courthouse was completed in May 1909.[4] It had been designed by the architect Walter D. Pugh and built under the direction of the contractor John B. Shipp.[5][6]
1962 renovation
In July 1962, the county began a project of lowering the ceilings in the circuit courtroom.[7] According to county judge Erwin Grimes, the ceiling was to be lowered by three and a half (3.5) feet and faced with acoustic tile.[7] There had been complaints, including from circuit court judge Robert H. Foley, that sound during trials echoed off the ceiling and made it difficult to hear.[7] The floor of the courtroom was to be covered by plywood and asphalt tile.[7] The work was to be done by a Prineville contractor at a cost of about $6,300.[7] This was the first significant renovation since the jail in the basement had been converted to office space.[7]
Description
The Crook County Courthouse consists of a basement, two main floors, an attic, and a clock tower. The 47-ton clock tower features a 1907 clock with an original crank system that is wound once a week. The building also includes the Crook County Clerk's Office, which maintains historic records dating back to 1882.[8][9]
As built, the basement was 11 feet high, with walls all above ground, and built of gray stone quarried about one mile west of the courthouse site.[10] By the end of August, 1907, the basement was nearly complete.[10] The basement was intended to contain three large vaults and the jail.[10]
The dimensions of the ground plan for the courthouse were 75 by 107 feet.[10] The first and second storeys above basement were to be 17 and 14 feet high respectively.[10] There were to be three solid stone approaches to the building which itself was to be built of brick with stone trim.[10]
Shortly after completion, the Crook County Journal touted the structure as "the finest in Eastern Oregon."[11]
Replacement
By 2021, the courthouse had become out of date.[12] It was characterized as "It’s beautiful from the outside, but cramped and crumbling within. Old vaults are now offices and there is no air conditioning or privacy. Safety and security are severely compromised, leaving everyone vulnerable to the risk of human or natural disaster."[12] A new justice center was proposed to be built on a different site, with the old courthouse to have its structure reinforced and then converted into county offices.[12]
In an election held on November 8, 2021, Crook County voters approved a bond issue to raise up to $35 million for a new justice center.[13]
References
^Prineville-Crook County Chamber of Commerce (Jan 2, 1901). "HISTORICAL SKETCH of the Territory Now Forming Crook County From Its Earliest Settlement Up to 1884". Crook County Journal (first annual issue). Prineville, OR. p.4, col.2.
^Scott, Harvey W., ed. (Feb 7, 1904). "CROOK COUNTY COURTHOUSE, WHICH WAS PARTIALLY DESTROYED BY FIRE, FEB. 4". Sunday Oregonian (photo caption). Vol. 23, no. 6. Portland, OR: Henry L. Pittock. p.6, col.3.
^ abc"BAYLEY EXPEDITES IT -- Westside Commissioner Did All He Could, Says Prineville Review". Madras Pioneer (from Prineville Review). Vol. 2, no. 22. Madras Oregon: Pioneer Pub. Co. January 17, 1907. p.4, col.2.
^"NEW COURTHOUSE FINISHED, COST $74,960 -- Building Completed Ahead of Time -- Contractor Shipp Highly Complimented". Madras Pioneer. Vol. 5, no. 41. Madras, OR: Pioneer Pub. Co. May 27, 1909. p.1, col.3.
^"New Court House Nearly Finished". Crook County Journal. Prineville, Oregon. April 15, 1909. p. 1 – via Historic Oregon Newspapers.
^"County Accepts New Courthouse". Crook County Journal. Prineville, Oregon. May 20, 1909. p.1 – via Historic Oregon Newspapers.
^ abcdefChandler, Robert W.; Brogan, Phil F., eds. (Jul 25, 1962). "Plans under way on decorations". Bend Bulletin (Dateline: PRINEVILLE (special)). Vol. 59, no. 195. Bend, OR. p.8, col.5.
^Ron Halvorson. "Crook County Courthouse". The Oregon Encyclopedia. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
^Colosky, Allie (Apr 30, 2018). "Crook County Courthouse stands strong after nearly 110 years". Bend Bulletin. Bend, OR. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
^"PRINEVILLE -- The Banking and Educational Center of an Inland Empire -- The Distributing Point for an Immense Territory". Crook County Journal (promotional editorial). Vol. 14, no. 38. Prineville, OR. Sep 1, 1910. p.1, col.2.
^ abcFriends of the Crook County Courthouse. "Measure 7-74". Retrieved Dec 4, 2022.
^Chaney, Jason (Nov 8, 2021). "Voters approve criminal justice center bond measure". CentralOregonian. Pamplin Media Group.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Crook County Courthouse (Oregon).
Crook County Circuit Court at Courts.Oregon.gov
Images of Crook County Courthouse at CourthouseHistory.com
Image of Crook County Courthouse at OregonDigital.org
January 06, 2023
crook, county, courthouse, courthouse, located, prineville, oregon, united, states, present, courthouse, built, 1909, replaced, earlier, courthouse, built, 1889, november, 2021, voters, crook, county, oregon, approved, bond, measure, raise, million, build, jus. Crook County Courthouse is a courthouse located in Prineville Oregon United States The present courthouse built in 1909 replaced an earlier courthouse built in 1889 In November 2021 voters of Crook County Oregon approved a bond measure to raise up to 35 million to build a new Justice Center on a different site Crook County CourthouseThe building s front exterior in 2007General informationLocation300 NE Third StreetPrineville Oregon U S Coordinates44 18 09 N 120 50 38 W 44 3024 N 120 8439 W 44 3024 120 8439 Coordinates 44 18 09 N 120 50 38 W 44 3024 N 120 8439 W 44 3024 120 8439Completed1909Design and constructionArchitect s Walter D Pugh Contents 1 History 1 1 Construction 1 2 1962 renovation 2 Description 3 Replacement 4 References 5 External linksHistory EditConstruction Edit The second Crook County Courthouse was completed in February 1886 at a cost of 5 474 1 The contractor was H A Belknap On February 4 1904 the 1889 courthouse was partially destroyed by fire 2 In January 1907 the Crook County Commission let out a contract for construction of a new courthouse at a cost of 50 000 3 The contract went to the Prineville Construction Company 3 The building was to be paid for with 43 500 from the county and 6 500 raised by a subscription from the citizens of Prineville Oregon Prineville 3 The new Crook County Courthouse was completed in May 1909 4 It had been designed by the architect Walter D Pugh and built under the direction of the contractor John B Shipp 5 6 1962 renovation Edit In July 1962 the county began a project of lowering the ceilings in the circuit courtroom 7 According to county judge Erwin Grimes the ceiling was to be lowered by three and a half 3 5 feet and faced with acoustic tile 7 There had been complaints including from circuit court judge Robert H Foley that sound during trials echoed off the ceiling and made it difficult to hear 7 The floor of the courtroom was to be covered by plywood and asphalt tile 7 The work was to be done by a Prineville contractor at a cost of about 6 300 7 This was the first significant renovation since the jail in the basement had been converted to office space 7 Description EditThe Crook County Courthouse consists of a basement two main floors an attic and a clock tower The 47 ton clock tower features a 1907 clock with an original crank system that is wound once a week The building also includes the Crook County Clerk s Office which maintains historic records dating back to 1882 8 9 As built the basement was 11 feet high with walls all above ground and built of gray stone quarried about one mile west of the courthouse site 10 By the end of August 1907 the basement was nearly complete 10 The basement was intended to contain three large vaults and the jail 10 The dimensions of the ground plan for the courthouse were 75 by 107 feet 10 The first and second storeys above basement were to be 17 and 14 feet high respectively 10 There were to be three solid stone approaches to the building which itself was to be built of brick with stone trim 10 Shortly after completion the Crook County Journal touted the structure as the finest in Eastern Oregon 11 Replacement EditBy 2021 the courthouse had become out of date 12 It was characterized as It s beautiful from the outside but cramped and crumbling within Old vaults are now offices and there is no air conditioning or privacy Safety and security are severely compromised leaving everyone vulnerable to the risk of human or natural disaster 12 A new justice center was proposed to be built on a different site with the old courthouse to have its structure reinforced and then converted into county offices 12 In an election held on November 8 2021 Crook County voters approved a bond issue to raise up to 35 million for a new justice center 13 References Edit Prineville Crook County Chamber of Commerce Jan 2 1901 HISTORICAL SKETCH of the Territory Now Forming Crook County From Its Earliest Settlement Up to 1884 Crook County Journal first annual issue Prineville OR p 4 col 2 Scott Harvey W ed Feb 7 1904 CROOK COUNTY COURTHOUSE WHICH WAS PARTIALLY DESTROYED BY FIRE FEB 4 Sunday Oregonian photo caption Vol 23 no 6 Portland OR Henry L Pittock p 6 col 3 a b c BAYLEY EXPEDITES IT Westside Commissioner Did All He Could Says Prineville Review Madras Pioneer from Prineville Review Vol 2 no 22 Madras Oregon Pioneer Pub Co January 17 1907 p 4 col 2 NEW COURTHOUSE FINISHED COST 74 960 Building Completed Ahead of Time Contractor Shipp Highly Complimented Madras Pioneer Vol 5 no 41 Madras OR Pioneer Pub Co May 27 1909 p 1 col 3 New Court House Nearly Finished Crook County Journal Prineville Oregon April 15 1909 p 1 via Historic Oregon Newspapers County Accepts New Courthouse Crook County Journal Prineville Oregon May 20 1909 p 1 via Historic Oregon Newspapers a b c d e f Chandler Robert W Brogan Phil F eds Jul 25 1962 Plans under way on decorations Bend Bulletin Dateline PRINEVILLE special Vol 59 no 195 Bend OR p 8 col 5 Ron Halvorson Crook County Courthouse The Oregon Encyclopedia Retrieved December 20 2019 Colosky Allie Apr 30 2018 Crook County Courthouse stands strong after nearly 110 years Bend Bulletin Bend OR Retrieved December 20 2019 a b c d e f Jackson C S Sam ed Aug 31 1907 PROGRESS ON CROOK COUNTY COURTHOUSE Oregon Daily Journal special dispatch Vol 6 no 153 Portland OR Journal Pub Co BUILDING NEWS p 16 col 5 PRINEVILLE The Banking and Educational Center of an Inland Empire The Distributing Point for an Immense Territory Crook County Journal promotional editorial Vol 14 no 38 Prineville OR Sep 1 1910 p 1 col 2 a b c Friends of the Crook County Courthouse Measure 7 74 Retrieved Dec 4 2022 Chaney Jason Nov 8 2021 Voters approve criminal justice center bond measure CentralOregonian Pamplin Media Group External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Crook County Courthouse Oregon Crook County Circuit Court at Courts Oregon gov Images of Crook County Courthouse at CourthouseHistory com Image of Crook County Courthouse at OregonDigital org Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Crook County Courthouse amp oldid 1125613528, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
