The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1883-08-14

Inc new Leon county Courthouse. now
nearly complcted attracts the almring attention
OF residents and strangers alike, and lis stately
proportions and striking architectural b.aulv
make it a notable ornament to the city. rs wei
rs IN object OF pride and interest 10 every citi
zen OF the county
The plans and specifications of this beautiful
structure were prepared by the wcll-known
architects, Messrs. ParkinS & Bruce OF Atlanta
Georgia, and on the 11ih Of October. 1881. thc
Building Committee OF the Board of Comfy
observation-disclosures. John McDorgall. ".
r. Wilson and John Brador1-adverised for
bids Tor its construction. y number of bids were.
received, and that OF Mr. ID. j. Oxford, OF bal
ton, Georgia, was accepted Mr.. Oxford began
operations shortly afterwards by leasing he OK
tcnsive brick yards OF Mr.. George Damon. aud
several months were spent in burning brick and
the purchase and transportation of other mate
rial, and preparing the foundations.
The plat OF ground upon which the building
stands IS one OF the most prominent and Gcsra-
bic in the city. 1t comprises what is known on
the city plat as Washington Square, one OF four
heavily shaded public squares embraced in the
original plan of the town. two hundred an,i fiiIv-
SIX feet square, fronting on The principal business
street, Monroe, which is one hundred feet wilc.
on two streets running east and west thirty icc,
wide, and Calhoun street on the east, sixty feet
wide. The square is surrounded on every side
by rows of large iyc-oakS and Wacr-olks, and
slopes gently from the front on Monroe street.
caStwardly TO Calhoun street This beautiful
site was secured by the County Commissioners
by an exchange for il of the old Courthouse
square on MCCarty street the use of which WAS
afterwards donated by the CITY to the Tallahis
see Hotel Company, and on which now stands
Tai!aEassce's new and elegant hotel, The Leon.
The Courthouse is OF brick, with Aelyv
metal cOrniccs and metal roof and is practically
tre-prOot The plan is cOmmOdi0us, convenient
and of great architectural beauty, the details of
ornamentation being in the best modern style :
and il is at once the most COSTLY ornamental ans
substantial structure of the kind in the State
The basement is cXcavated and finished at The
rear into cOmm0dious storage rooms for fucl, Nc.
The fA%t or main floor will comprise an en-
trance hall II by 10 feet, contann. two grand
stalrcasts leading TO the upper story. on either
Side "f the font DION. On cithcr side of ts.i
hall is large room, 1G by ~ feet 10 be used by
the Sheriff and Collector and Assessor oi Rev
enue Across the entire huding at the rear of
these offices and the front hail. is a splendid cor
rldor, II hY 30 feet, at each end OF which are
wide outer doors. Back OF this are the offices OF
the Clerk, and the Treasurer and County Judge.
each 10 by 90 feet, on either side OF IA back hall
by 81 feet, which also has an outer door 1t It's
eastern end and which contains 4 private stair.
way leading to the Judges room above In the
rear of the Clerks and Trcasurcrs Office
are two fire-proof chambers 16l by Is feet.
with iron doors and shutters, ccmen,cd floor
and ceilings arched with brick on iron girici-.
These are for the safe preservation OF the public
records, DC. The ceilings Of the first story are
II feet in height and all the rooms are furnished
with fire places
The second story comprises two large jury
rooms at the front on either silc OF the man
hall, each l6 by 10 feet, opening into the count