Key Number:	HS 30554
Site Name:	Cardston Courthouse
Other Names:
Site Type:	1304 - Governmental: Court House

Location

ATS Legal Description:

			Twp	Rge	Mer
			3	25	4

Address:	89 - 3 Avenue W
Number:	89
Street:	N/A
Avenue:	3 W
Other:
Town:	Cardston
Near Town:

Media

Type	Number	Date	View	Source

Architectural

Style:	Romanesque Revival
Plan Shape:	Rectangular
Storeys:	Storeys: 1
Foundation:	Basement/Foundation Wall Material: Stone
Superstructure:
Superstructure Cover:
Roof Structure:	Flat
Roof Cover:
Exterior Codes:	Massing of Units: Single Detached Wings: Rear Number of Bays - Facade: First or Ground Floor, 4 Bays Wall Design and Detail: Quoins Wall Design and Detail: Corbelling Wall Design and Detail: Entablature Wall Design and Detail: Plain Parapet Wall Design and Detail: Stepped Parapet Wall Design and Detail: Carving Plain Eaves Dormer Type: None Chimney Location - Side to Side: Side Left Chimney Location - Side to Side: Side Right Chimney Location - Front to Rear: Rear Chimney Stack Material: Stone Chimney Stack Massing: Single Roof Trim - Special Features: None Window - Structural Opening Shape: Semi-Circular Window - Trim Outside Structural Opening - Head: Voussoirs Window - Trim Outside Structural Opening - Head: Keystone Window - Trim Outside Structural Opening - Sides: None Window - Sill Type: Plain Slip Sill Window - Sill Material: Stone Window - Trim Within Structural Opening - Head: Flat Transom, Single Light Window - Number of Sashes: One Window - Opening Mechanism: Horizontal Sliding Main Entrance - Location: Off-Centre (Facade) Main Entrance - Structural Opening Shape: Semi-Circular Main Entrance - Trim Outside Structural Opening - Head: Voussoir Main Entrance - Trim Outside Structural Opening - Head: Keystone Main Entrance - Trim Outside Structural Opening - Sides: None Main Entrance - Trim Within Structural Opening - Head: Plain Main Entrance - Trim Within Structural Opening - Head: Shaped Transom, Multiple Lights Main Entrance - Trim Within Structural Opening - Sides: Plain Main Entrance - Number of Panels Per Leaf: 1 Main Entrance - Leaves - Special Feature: Glass Main Stairs - Location and Design: First or Ground Floor, Without Railing Main Stairs - Direction: Other Main Porch - Type: Platform Main Porch - Special Features: None
Exterior:	An interesting exterior feature was the incorporation of a roof drainage gravity water system to provide an emergency secondary supply for fire protection, a source of considerable concern in communities lying within the province's dry belt area. Foundation: rubble stone (sandstone).
Interior:	In its final configuration the courthouse contained an apartment for the North-West Mounted Police detachment, along with prisoners' cells, in the basement area, while the main floor was devoted exclusively to court facilities. The floor plan of the court level was remarkably simple: the main entrance to the building led directly into the court room via a small lobby area; the court room, which runs the entire length of the building, was lined by rooms for jury, library, witnesses, lawyers, judge and clerk with no insulating corridor. Over half of the physical area of the court room was allocated for the public gallery. A staircase located in an ante room at the rear of the building provided access to the prisoners' and police area below. 'The main entrance is reached after going up three stone steps and passing through a single arched doorway into an enclosed vestibule from thence into a lobby having an arched opening into the court room. The court room is twenty feet wide by fifty-seven feet long. As this structure has but one principal storey no attempt at elaborate stairs or other interior finish work was considered necessary to add to the beautifying of its internal features. The building throughout was finished in white plaster, birch and fir woods. The principal storey is finished in birch and the basement storey in fir, all having a natural varnish finish. The toilet arrangements are the best of modern makes. The building is heated by steam and lighted by electricity. The water supply is directly connected with the town's water service and has an auxiliary tank supply as well.' (1908 report by A.M. Jeffers)
Environment:	Located on an avenue near some older homes.
Condition:	Apparently in good condition. Structure: Good. Repair: Good. 1 FEB 1977.
Alterations:	1926 - expansion of basement living quarters for the Provincial Police. 1967 - new floor covering and court room ceilings were installed and plumbing and heating systems were replaced. 1973 - portion of the roof. Apparent Alterations and/or Additions: Window. Apparent Alterations and/or Additions: Door.

Historical

Construction:	Construction Date:
Construction Started Construction Ended	1906/01/01 1908/01/01
Usage:	Usage Date:
Courthouse Museum	1906/01/01 1981/01/01
Owner:	Owner Date:
Town of Cardston	1981/06/23

Architect:	1906 - original plans drawn up (possibly by Samuel S. Newton of Cardston)
Builder:	Newton
Craftsman:	J.C. Cahoon
History:	In 1906, the newly constituted Province of Alberta began a monumental Public Works building programme by commencing work on the Cardston Courthouse and the Calgary Normal School. The structures were designed to mark both the creation of the Province and the initiation of the broad social and educational programmes of the Rutherford government. Built between 1906 and 1909, the Courthouse is a simple one storey structure made of finely crafted St. Mary River sandstone. Unique in appearance and layout among Alberta courthouses, it is distinguished by generously proportioned round-arched windows and doorway, a parapet and a heavy cornice. Local stonemason and general contractor, Samuel S. Newton, supervised construction of the Courthouse which served the Cardston community continuously until 1981. As the first in a succession of substantial stone courthouses in Alberta, the Cardston Courthouse was designated a Provincial Historic Resource on March 1, 1979, by the Honourable Horst D. Schmid, Minister Responsible for Culture. * * * DRAFT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 21, 1979 Edmonton, Alberta Province Declares First Courthouse in Alberta a Provincial Historic Resource The first courthouse built in Alberta has been designated a Provincial Historic Resource, it was announced by Horts A. Schmid, Minister of Culture. The Cardstone Courthouse, at 89 - 3rd Avenue S.W. Cardston, is the oldest standing building in Alberta in continuous use as a courthouse. Constructed between 1906 and 1909 of local sandstone, it was the first courthouse erected by the provincial government after Alberta's transition from territory to province. Designed by the Department of Public Works and constructed by Cardston resident Samuel S. Newton under the suppervision of well known Alberta architect A.M. Jeffers, it is the only courthouse in Alberta, and one of few buildings of any kind in the province, designed in the Richardsonian Romanesque style.

Internal

Designation Status:	Designation Date:
Provincial Historic Resource	1979/03/01

Register:	N/A

Links

Internet:
Alberta Register of Historic Places:	4665-0196