AAC
FEATURE
Left: AAC staff took photos of the Saline County Courthouse in Benton with a drone. Above: Foliated terra cotta relief panels reading “1902 Saline County Courthouse” were installed above the east and west entries of the Saline County Courthouse.
A Romanesque Revival Saline County Courthouse is a two-story building with many contrasting features.
Story and Photos by Holly Hope Heritage and Tourism
Te Saline County Courthouse in Benton was built in 1902 and displays many of the typical features of Romanesque Re- vival. Two additions to the original building were appended to the south and north in 1939. Te southern addition has been removed, and the historic façade on that elevation was exposed, while the northern wing was expanded to the west in 1983. Te historic elements of the Saline County Court- house, designed by Arkansas architect Charles Tompson, are still evident, and the one-story addition utilizes a 20th-century expression of Romanesque Revival in sympathetic materials. Saline County was formed from Pulaski County in 1835, at which time the central city of Benton was chosen as coun- ty seat. Benton offered other advantages as a municipal cen- ter in that it was located on the Southwest Trail from Little Rock, and it offered population numbers sufficient for a gov- ernment hub. Prior to 1838 court was held in available space. A school was utilized in 1835, and in 1836 a Baptist church served as a courtroom. In 1838, the first of three courthouses was built on land in Benton donated by Arkansas Gazette editor William Woodruff. Te two-story brick building was of inferior construction, so it was demolished in 1856. Te second courthouse for Saline County was constructed on the site in that year. After the Civil War, Saline County enjoyed a new era fa- cilitated by railroad construction in the 1870s. In 1900 the St. Louis and Iron Mountain Railroad in Saline County was joined by the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific railroads. Te benefits from these developments led to incremental expan- sion in business and population. Additional positive change in the economic character of the county was ushered in with
COUNTY LINES, WINTER 2020
the discovery of bauxite in 1887. Together, these advances in- fluenced the need for a larger courthouse by 1902. In that year the Saline County quorum court dedicated $4,000 for construction of a new courthouse. Arkansas architect Charles Tompson designed the Romanesque Revival building, and John Odom was construction overseer. Te $31,000 court- house was erected on the location of the previous courthouse, which was demolished. Te Romanesque Revival style in America was influenced
by European architectural elements and was made popular by American architect Henry Hobson Richardson in the late 19th century. Te style was considered suitable for such pub- lic buildings as courthouses because of the use of masonry construction, which could be considered less whimsical and more permanent — characteristics deemed appropriate for a seat of government. Textbook examples of Romanesque Re- vival include contrasting materials, round or polygonal towers with conical and pyramidal roofs, belt courses, recessed arched entries and windows, and dormers. All of these elements are displayed on the Saline County Courthouse. Romanesque style contrasting on the two-story building is evident in the walls of yellow brick atop a rusticated granite foundation topped by a limestone belt course, which traverses the building. Further use of contrasting materials is seen in foliated terra cotta relief panels reading “1902 Saline County Courthouse” above the east and west entries. A foliated terra cotta medallion reading “1902” is situated at the second story entrance. Extensive use of towers at all corners of the building reads Romanesque, as well. Historically, there were identical entrances on the four eleva- tions of the building, so there was not a single, main entry.
See “COURTHOUSE” on Page 36 >>> 33
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