Committee CPC History
Courthouse History
The Benton County Courthouse is the oldest courthouse in Oregon still being used for its original purpose. Its design is called “Italian Villa with a military influence” and was created by Delos D. Neer, a Portland architect of note.
Construction
Construction began in the fall of 1888 on both the new courthouse and a jail immediately south of the new building. The foundation and basement walls were made of “superior quality gray granite” from the local quarry at Witham Hill. The upper walls were made of locally produced clay brick. The exterior was then surfaced with concrete made from sand found in Washington Territory and barged down to Portland, where it was then sacked and barged to Salem. There it was transferred to a smaller barge and sent to Albany. From there they were transferred on railway flat cars to finally arrive at their destination.
The interior finish was of fir and white pine and left in their “natural colors” until the 1920s then they were finally varnished. The large stones supporting the front steps were shipped from San Francisco.
In addition to the boiler and hot water heat that were installed at the time of construction, almost every room had a chimney to which a wood burning stove was connected. The eighteen small chimneys that can be seen in early photos were removed around the time of World War I. Piping for acetylene gas lights was provided and some of the pipe can still be seen in the first floor hallway.
The tower was installed soon after the building was finished. Using heavy weights to power the clock’s movements meant the clock’s works had to be “cranked up” every week. And falling weights damaged the building soon after the clock began to be used. Today it is driven by a small electric meter. This tower also contains the old city fire bell which was tolled by rope which ran through the upper floors and down to the front staircase by the front door.
Initial Occupation
Partially occupied as early as May of 1889, the courthouse was substantially completed late the same year at a cost of about $70,000. It was a very impressive building for anywhere in the State of Oregon and proclaimed the hopes of the people of Benton County for a thriving future. The May 1889 issue of “The West Shore” magazine stated as much when it remarked “with one exception the finest and most expensive (building) in the state . . . an ornament to the city and a credit to the county . . . This (in addition to the new school building) will give Corvallis better public buildings than any other town of its size in the Northwest.”
Originally the Circuit Courtroom had a floor to ceiling height of 24 feet, which was reduced in a later remodel to sixteen feet. It occupied the entire area between the east and west wings of the building. Ceiling detail consisted of a plaster radius with cornice at the edges and an ornate wood and plaster medallion at the center. These details still exist in place and are generally intact. The original window and molding details are still visible.
Missing from the courtroom are some of the original wainscoting, ornate wooden panel behind the judge’s bench and the original low railing which divided the audience and the participants during trials. The original judge’s bench is still in use in the south Circuit Courtroom. The original jury box, north circuit courtrooms, remains, along with the spectator benches.
Some other noteworthy items that have long since disappeared begins with the sawdust that covered the courtroom floor, the paper Mache spittoons substituted for the sawdust in the early 20th century, and replaced again by brass spittoons which were removed in the 1950s.
Renovation
In the fall of 1976 the Benton County Commissioners and Judges retained the office of Cy Stadsvold, AIA, to conduct a study to determine the potential for renovation and “functional restoration” which would restore and preserve the historic character of the courthouse and provide a more functional set of spaces for the courts and other offices and functions.
The renovation construction was accomplished during the 1977-78 by General Contractor Bark Hess Building Contractor, Inc. from Portland, Oregon. Additional space was added on the third and fourth floors including a room for the law library, District Attorney’s office and a lounge area within the clock tower. Courtrooms were remodeled along with many of the offices and public areas. A new electrical system, smoke detection system and central air conditioning were added for the upper floors. In the basement a new vault was constructed. Throughout light fixtures, woodwork and interior finished were carefully chosen in an effort to restore and reflect the original character of the Courthouse.
At a cost of approximately $869,000, the remodel project retained the historic building for public use as a courthouse which was estimated to accommodate county and court needs into the early twenty-first century. Approximately 5,200 square feet of floor space was gained. Also, the quality of the court environment was substantially improved.
The Flight of Time
Judge Richard Mengler, Courthouse VIP
Richard Mengler saw the Benton County Courthouse for the first time when he arrived in Corvallis via bus in the summer of 1939. It was in view across the street from the bus station, and he has said “When I got off the bus, there was this enormous courthouse. That was my first impression of Corvallis. I became impressed with that building, and that was the beginning of a life-long friendship with the courthouse.”
Born and raised in rural Nebraska, Judge Mengler’s career included teaching high school in Nebraska, serving as vice principal at Corvallis High School, four years serving in the army, graduation from law school at the University of Oregon, serving as city attorney for Corvallis, serving as District Court judge, teaching business law at Oregon State University, and becoming Circuit Court judge in 1965. He retired in 1981 after 17 years of service as a highly respected Benton County judge and pro tem member of the Oregon Supreme Court. He was recognized as an outstanding graduate of Nebraska’s Kearney State College in 1980.
Anticipating the arrival of the newly elected judge in 1965, an effort was made around the courthouse to focus on an “out with the old, in with the new” kind of modernization of the building. Reflecting on when he first realized this was happening, Judge Mengler said “It really upset me to see old railings and paneling being ripped out and replaced with plywood. I felt guilty that it was being done because of me.” Thus began one man’s quest, behind the scenes initially, to preserve as much of the original courthouse as possible. He believed that “It’s our heritage. It’s our link with the past.”
Judge Mengler served as chair of the Courthouse Preservation Committee for 12 years. In this capacity and in many personal efforts, he was often credited with “saving the courthouse.” He was considered the person most responsible for the courthouse receiving the 1988 National Historic Preservation Award and for the courthouse being added to the National Registry of Historic Places.
There is a room bearing Judge Richard Mengler’s name in the courthouse, as well as a bench dedicated to him on the grounds. While he greatly appreciated these honors, he described his true source of satisfaction in his relationship with the courthouse in personal writings done for his family. “Without question, the high points of my almost quarter-century judicial career are not related to some great judicial decisions I made. Rather, they are (1) having the clock strike after years of silence; (2) the flying of the flag atop the courthouse tower after an absence of many years; (3) hearing the carillon play; and (4) the 1979-80 restoration and renovation of the courthouse.”
Judge Mengler’s two children would often say that he had three children: his son, his daughter, and the courthouse.
Photographic History
In the News
Courthouse Preservation
The National Register of Historic Places (The Register)
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the Register is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.
The Benton County Courthouse is listed in The Register.
Good Friends, Different Missions
Oregon State Historical Society
The Oregon Historical Society serves as the state’s collective memory, gathering and preserving a vast collection of artifacts, photographs, films, manuscripts, books, and oral histories.
Benton County Historical Society
The Benton County Historical Society operates the museum and preserves collections including photographs, historical documents, textiles, clothing, domestic arts, farm implements, scientific instruments, personal possessions, and the College of Philomath building.
Which preservation organization functions where?
| Level | Government | Private |
|---|---|---|
| National | National Park Service; Advisory Council on Historic Preservation | National Trust for Historic Preservation |
| State | Oregon State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) | Restore Oregon |
| Local | City of Corvallis Historic Resources Commission (HRC) | PreservationWORKS |
| Benton County Historic Resources Commission (HRC) | PreservationWORKS; Alliand for Recreation and Natural Areas |
What are the federal or state restrictions, rules, regulations for historic property owners?
From the federal perspective, a property owner can do whatever they want with their property as long as there are no federal funds attached to the property or involved in the project.
Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 358.653 obligates all political subdivisions of the state – including counties – to consult with the SHPO to avoid inadvertent impacts to historic properties for which they are responsible. Impacts are usually the result of construction projects, but may also include the transfer of properties out of public ownership. If federal funds are involved, then ORS 358.653 is superseded by Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.
What local regulations apply?
In the City of Corvallis, locally Designated Historic Resources are governed by Chapter 2.9 of the Land Development Code and administered in a quasi-judicial process by the City of Corvallis HRC. The Benton County Courthouse is a locally Designated Historic Resource. Changes to the building’s exterior would require a historic preservation permit from the City.
What about the Benton County HRC?
While the County HRC would be very interested in plans for the Courthouse, the Courthouse is within the City’s jurisdiction. A similar example is the Knotts-Owens farmstead. While the City owns the resource, the property is outside the city limits and the County HRC would be the appropriate review body.