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STORY Jackson County Continued From Previous Page <<<
the building and finally on Oct. 5, 1894, the work was completed. Te new Jackson County Courthouse was
a stunning combination of the Queen Anne and Romanesque Revival styles, with round- ed turrets and stone-topped arched entries. Te central tower was topped with a stately sculpture of robed Justice, which still gazes over Newport’s rooftops. By the late 1930s, the needs of the citizens
of Jackson County exceeded the courthouse’s capabilities, so the county applied to the Public Works Administration, a Depression-era public relief program, for funding to rehabilitate the structure and construct an annex. Te county applied for and received a $45,419 PWA grant for the project and hired the McAninch and Anderson architectural firm to spearhead the effort. A $94,907 construction contract with the Lenbarcher and Fraser construction compa- ny began on Dec. 22, 1938, and construction started five days later. Over the next 11 months the courtroom was moved to the second floor of the 1894 structure, an elevator was installed, and the interior was redecorated. Te two-story annex, attached to the north side of the original building, included offices on the first floor and the enlarged courtroom space on the second. While no other major construction proj-
ects would involve the courthouse, the historic building has benefited from several Arkansas Historic Preservation Program County Court- house Restoration Grants to keep it in service for the people of Jackson County, including efforts to make it accessible to all of the coun- ty’s citizens and to alleviate chronic problems with roof leaks (see sidebar article below). Te Jackson County Courthouse, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on Nov. 18, 1976, has received eight grants total- ing $304,093 since 1991.
Jeff Phillips County Judge
Jamie Cheshier Treasurer
Jackson County Elected Officials
Melanie Clark County Clerk
Nora Gibson Assessor
David Lucas Sheriff
Dianne Burgess Collector
Facts Courthouse
Christopher Driver Coroner
Lisa Turner Circuit Clerk
Justices of the Peace Kenny Falwell
Kenneth Grady Robert Harris David Howard
Jerry Lynn Hulett Joe Kinder
Elwanda Templeton Clay Young
Tommy Young
Jackson County Quick
n Courthouse built: 1892-4, 1939 n Architect: Lazar Hirsch, planner, with guidance from architects George H. Johnston and Thomas Harding (1892-4); McAninch and Anderson, 1939. n Style: Queen Anne with Romanesque Revival elements n Materials: brick, concrete, shingle, stone n Cost: $44,196 for the 1892-4 building; $94,907 for the 1939 addition. n Listed on National Register of Historic Places Nov. 18, 1976 n Special features: The Jackson County Courthouse is the only courthouse in Arkansas that features a sculpture on its roof.
AHPP County Courthouse Restoration Grants for the Jackson County Courthouse
Among the many programs and services of the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program is the County Courthouse Restoration Grant Program. Cre- ated in 1989, this grant program has helped to extend the lives of courthouses that hold vital links to community pride and local history. Tese grants are funded through the Real Estate Transfer Tax, administered by the Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council. Since the beginning of the program, the AHPP has awarded almost $16 million to 61 historic courthouses around the state for use in rehabilitating, preserving and protecting these important historic resources. Since 1991, Jackson County has received eight grants totaling $304,093. Year 1991 1992 1993 1994 1999 2001 2009 2011
Amount $20,000 $25,000 $17,426 $10,000 $8,000
$14,667 $115,000 $94,000
32 Background art work: Phillips walks up the State Capitol steps. Project
Implement Phase One Restoration Restore Exterior Doors and Windows Roof Repairs
Upgrade Electrical System
Make Restrooms Accessible to the Handicapped Paint Exterior and Roof Repairs Repair Roof, Phase One Repair Roof, Phase Two
COUNTY LINES, WINTER 2013
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