Wednesday 07th of January 2009 03:09 AM
The "new" Logan County Courthouse was built in 1910 in the middle of the courthouse square. This Classic Revival-style building is a visual anchor for our downtown area. This style is more reminiscent of court houses found east of the Mississippi River. It was built at a cost of $100,000 by Kaepernik and Jenkins, with John J. Huddart as the architect. (It was recently learned that Mr. Huddart has more courthouses on the National Register than any other architect).
The Court House is a complex regular shaped structure with a domed cupola covering the rotunda area of the building rising from a complex hipped roof. The Classical Revival elements are numerous in this structure, making it one of the most prominent and significant landmarks in the community. The four story buff brick structure has contrasting masonry details and a red sandstone course just above the below ground foundation. The slightly raised basement allows for natural light penetration and is clad with the contrasting masonry. The contrasting masonry is repeated in dominate corner quoins and window surrounds. The main entrance has a pediment over the door with Ionic column supports and dnetil trim. The door is topped with voussoirs and surrounded by quoins. The pattern is repeated in all the dormer windows. The first story windows are arched with keystones and drip molds. The second story lintels are straight with keystones. The side entrances have voussoirs over doors and an identical patter to the remaining masonry work.
It was dedicated on March 5, 1910 with an orchestra playing in the rotunda. This building replaced an earlier courthouse sitting on the same block, but further east and nearer the street. For many years, this area was also a city park. A fishpond graced the south end of the courthouse where the parking lot is now.
Extensive restoration to the courthouse was done in 1984. This work included the detailed plaster sculpture next to the second floor ceiling, the iron grill work and banisters, the crown molding in egg and dart pattern, the oak doors and woodwork, the etched glass doors, and the original fixtures. The Corinthian and Doric columns are plaster copies, made according to the old molds and photographs. The period signage matches the original. Porcelain floor tiles were restored or replaced as needed. The Colorado Yule marble floors were also restored. The exterior was cleaned. Beige brick and the white terra cotta quoins, window voussoirs and lug sills were restored. The steps of St. Vrain sandstone were also restored. Permanent displays on the lower level include the linen blueprints of the building and several oil paintings depicting early life in Logan County. The paintings were done by Gene Carara, a local high school art teacher. This building is also on the National Register of Historic Places.
Overland Trail Museum
210533 CR 26.5
Sterling, CO 80751
Phone: (970) 522-3895