Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-07-13
THE NEW COURTHOUSE

Complete as to detail, handsome
in design and constructed Of the best
possible material is the splendid new
York county courthouse, which was
de dicated this morning. 1t Is a build
ing which is without an equal Of its
kind in the state and with which only
few buildings of any kind in South
Carolina can compare. The new
courthouse Is without doubt the larg-
est and most costly structure in York
county and will doubtless be able to
house all officers of the law and re-
main hall of justice sufficiently large
to meet all requirements during the
next several score years.
In company with Mr.. H. F. Ham,
general superintendent Of the Trav-
ers-Wood Construction company, the
builders Of the courthouse, repre-
sentative of The Enquirer was shown
over the large structure Saturday aft
ernoon. According to the superin-
tendent, the York county courthouse
is the only real fire-proof building in
the state. It's plan is also materially
different from that Of any other build
ing in the state.
AS one approaches the main en-
trance of the building. he Is struck
with the beautiful Ionic architecture
portrayed there, together with the
four columns which support the front.
The outer walls are Of pressed pep
per-and-salt" brick, absolutely fire.
proof, laid with half-inch raked
joint and are paneled under each and
every window.
AS the main lobby of the building
is entered a handsome lavatory is OBJ
served in a neat closet OH each side at
the front. The floor Of this main cor
ridor, and in fact all corridors in the
building, are laid in tile with a deep
fret border, while the wainscoting
throughout is of marble, three feet or
more in height.
All offices are on the first floor Of
the building. Large and comfortable
are the rooms, which vary in dimen-
each Official has more room and more
furniture for that particular room
than he really needs Entering the
courthouse from the front, the office
Of the probate judge Is on the right.
The second Office on the same side Is
that Of the sheriff, which Is succeeded
by that Of the treasurer, whose office
in turn connects with the office Of the
auditor. On the opposite side Of the
corridor from the county treasurer's
office Is found the office Of the coun-
ty supervisor and commissioners.
This room joins the office Of the SUI
perintendent of education, while the
balance Of the office room Is reserved
for the clerk Of the court, that official
having a record room, private office
and main office.
Each and every office is furnished
in mission oak of pretty shade Of
green, and Is equipped with filing
cases and cabinet made by the Van
Dorm Iron Works of Cleveland, o.,
and are said to be the very last word
in metal furnishings. One Of the most
interesting rooms in the new struct-
ure Is the record room in the office Of
the clerk Of the court. The room Is
metal throughout, there not being a
single piece of wood in it. The filing
cases are constructed along the walls,
while a space of probably ten feet be-
tween the top Of the cases and the
ceiling has been reserved for the time
when what appears to be more than
adequate space, will have been filled
with records, and additional room will
be needed. There is also a basement
beneath this record room, which Is
entered by a spiral stairway and which
will be used to store old records.
Another point regarding the struct-
ure of the building to which attention
was directed. is the fact that all the
floors are built Of reinforced concrete
and hollow clay tile, which are said
to be the best and most durable ma
terials for floor building. Every par
tition in the courthouse is Of gypsum
block, a material which Is made by
only two firms ir the United States.
There is a double approach to the
courtroom, which is on the second
floor, the two stairways being quite
wide and winding. There are two
large rooms-one on each side of the
lobby to the courtroom. One Of these
rooms,-that on the rights to be
used by the grand jury. The room
across the hall is a witness room, used
by those awaiting examination at the
hands of the grand jurors. Joining
the grand jury room ana IN clOse
proximity to the auditorium is la
dies rest room. 1t is artistically
fitted up There is drugget on the
floor, a lar. ;e leather couch, a mirror,
several rocking chairs, table, towel
rack, lavatory and toilet, and fire.
place. which gives it home-like ap-
pearance.
The main auditorium is a thing Of
beauty. 1t is said to be without par
allel in the state. The interior design
is Of ornamental plaster Of Roman
esque effect with a deep worked