Courthouses reflect history

By law, every county in the United States has been required to construct a "convenient building for holding courts."

But early on in American history, county courthouses became much more than that. They became symbols of local government, of democracy in action, of civic pride. As former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Lewis F. Powell Jr. noted, "public buildings often accurately reflect the beliefs, priorities and aspirations of a people … For much of our history, the courthouse has served not just as a local center of the law and government, but as a meeting ground, cultural hub and social gathering place."

When it came time to build its courthouses, Utah was no different than any other state in wanting to create showpieces that reflected local values.

"County courthouses are among the royalty of Utah architecture," wrote Roger Roper in a 1993 article in the Utah Historical Quarterly. "Only the State Capitol, major religious buildings, a few collegiate structures and a handful of other buildings rival or overshadow them in scale, visibility and architectural distinction."

Although there were never any specific guidelines laid down for courthouse construction, "there was apparently a basic understanding of what constituted an appropriate design and setting, especially in the 19th century, when most of Utah's first courthouses were built," writes Roper.

For one thing, courthouses were centrally located within the county seat, usually near a principal intersection and often next to major religious or educational buildings. They were often allowed to take up an entire city block and were usually set back a good distance from the street. "This drew attention to the building and created an atmosphere of distinction and respect for the activities of county government carried on within," wrote Roper.

Over the years, some of Utah's original county courthouses have been lost — replaced by more functional, if less distinct, buildings. But Utah still has a rich legacy of county courthouses, says Kirk Huffaker, executive director of the Utah Heritage Foundation. Some 16 historic courthouse buildings remain, and 11 of them are still in use as courts or for other county offices.

"Courthouses have a local connection that is very important," says Huffaker. "What happens in these buildings is where people see the most effect of local government. Not only do they offer innumerable services, they are repositories of birth, death, marriage, real estate records — most of the significant transactions of life. Many have seen tragic court cases and famous marriages."

Equally important, he says, as a whole, they represent almost every era of architecture in Utah.