The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1865-11-25
The Linn County COURT HOUSE.

general elegance of the new Linn county Court
House In this place. BY politeness of Perry Wat
son, It's builder, we are enabled To give some
thing of an accurate description of the ediaee,
as, to aid as In this purpose. he has furnished us
With the dimensions AMI other details pertaining
10 the b%aildlng.
The exterior dimensions ef the structure are as
fellows Entire depth 90 feet--of which Is feet are
devoted to the portico In front-lesving 50 feot as
be depth OF the main building extreme width SO
feet, with eompressicns Of nearly two feet depth
and about twelve feet length at either end height
OF building from foundation line To tin Of roof 50
feet The portieo In front is la feet depth bx 40
feet width. The top projection Il supported by
four massive pillars Of brick. 30 feet height 1 feet
diameter at base and 3 feet q inches at top the
pillars have full moulding bases aud anely wrought
composite caps. The sides and rear of the building
are ornamsnted with half relief, undecided, inlita-
lion pillars, square projections, from water table to
the heavy eOrnice just beneath the eavss. which
add materially TO tho elegance and finish Of the
structure. The roof Is Of no regular style, ba. is
termed by the builder, composite, II having rront
and rear, aud at each side, heavily corniced pedi
mentss thus presenting q similar appearanee at top
from each cardinal point. From the epntral part
Of the roof rises a finely proportioned and beapti-
fully designed cupolA to the full height of IS feet
in three divisions Of 10 feet. IL feet. and dome of
10 feet, respectively. This eupola is Oetagon In
form, with full, large windows at each side in the
hrzs two divisions, and between each pIndoW veil
proportioaed pillars to support the projections i'm
meaiately above and beautify the general appear
|anee Of the cupola. The dome Is sheeted over with
PLACES Of heavy tin and painted. like the whole ex-
terror of the building, a rich dark brown. The
great pillars in front are sixteen square and cover
ed with mastic. The building itself is of brick,
painted as we say above. save the half relief col
amns at the sides and rear, which have a darker
tinge of the same general color TO give better effect
to the appearance. The coraiee aud ornamental
work MON the exterior is tasteful, rich and finish
ed in style.
Internally, the building Is at once cOmmodious,
elegant and exceedingly well designed. The lower
story has a height Of II feet from aoor to ceiling,
aud a eapaeions hall, Il feet in width, runs from
front 10 rear. On one side are the offices of the
County Treasurer. Clerk. Commissioners, the Conn
ty Court room and a trial jury room; on the other
the Offices OF the Sheriff, Assessor. and Grand Jury
room. There are Eve windows on either side and
two al either end, each 10 feet 6 inches by 4 feet 0
Inches which afford ample light to the rooms and
great stairway. From Immediately opt Of the yes
tibule the stnirways wind in half circle to the great
Court ball above. The ceiling to this hall is ~
feet 9 inches in height, with deliberately wrought
|e~ornices, and ehahaelier wreath-formed moeldings.
There are also eye windows on either side aud two
at either end Of this story, each u feet inches
height by 1 feet 6 inches width. Aeapeeicus slop-
ing gallery, Is feet depth by - feet width, stout
pillaEs supporting lts lower llne about : feet above
the hall floor, is constructed II the front part Of the
building. The Judges seat Is placed at the central
part Of the rear end, well elevated. with the Clerks
desk and Bar in front. On either side against the
walls, facing the judges scat arg eapacions bench
es for the accommodation Of grand and trial jurors.
The Bar is raised a foot from the hall a,OF, and
separated from it by a balassrade. II is furnished
with tarro large centre tables for The aeeemmoda-
ton of Attorneys. All Of the appointments 10 this
portion Of the Court room-the Judges seat, Clerks
desk and Bar-are haadseue.s substantial and very
convenient The spectators hall Is web provided
with stout comfortable, high-baekcd benches in
four tiers width and about twensy depth, with two
wide aislcs leading from the ~stairwsys 10 eiths,
side Of the Bar. TIE hall altogether is beyond
question the very finest IN Oregon.
The work on the Court Honse was commenced
June Is, 1858, and the contractor surrendered il
completed into the possession of the County author
titles the lest part of oesobeFjustpa past The total cost
Of the building. Mr.. Watson says. is about SIS gee
he rcccivsd SCI .ss5-that being the contract price.
Tho Foundation stone nasesy was executed by
A. Gregg and d. ". Cundi6. who also built the
great pillars of the portieo Jas. Bamford and
VIM. McIllree were the BRICK masons, and John
Berry The plasterer and hard hnisher. The joia-
er's work was done by Messrs. Watson Kirkpat-
: ok, Needham and st, John Mr.. kirkpatrick put
up the s~tairWayk & II. Williams painted the
bailding; NJ. W. Mack and C. C. Cooley. put on
tae un roofing and furnished the stoves and stove
pipes throughout the whole. Taken altogether tho
Court Hoase is the mest substantial. largest. finest
and most complete public edifce in oregpa. In
architectural appearance proportion, symmetry
and style-it has no equal in the State, very few
~superioTs on the coast. 1t is an ornament to the
town, an honor. to The county, and rcaccts credit
upon its builder. Its fine location makes it visi-
bic from points about the country miles away, and
seen from whatever direction ii may be. it shows to
decided advantage.