Original Wasco County Courthouse

Introduction

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Although it might not look like much today, this small building was Wasco County's first courthouse. It was constructed by a local builder in April 1859, just two months after Oregon was granted statehood. Designed with elements of the Federal style, it is a good example of vernacular architecture and has been well preserved. The courtroom was located on the second floor while the Clerk's Office, Sheriff's Office, and three jail cells were on the first floor. Over the years, the building has operated as city hall, a private house, and a boarding house. It is now a museum operated by the Original Wasco County Courthouse Preservation Corporation. Several items are on display inside including leg irons, handcuffs, ball and chains, and a pair of "iron boots." It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.

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The Original Wasco County Courthouse was built in 1859 and is how a museum.

Backstory and Context

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Wasco County was established in 1854 and was originally much larger than it is now. The Dalles grew from a military outpost and important stop for settlers traveling west to an established community. Another factor contributing to the town's grow was that gold was found in eastern Oregon and in Idaho in the years following statehood. Given these factors, The Dalles was the clear choice to become the county seat.

The original courthouse was located at the corner of Court and Third Streets and served as the courthouse until 1882. By then it was clear that the county needed a larger building to handle the increased size of the population. As a result, the second courthouse was built in 1883. The third and current courthouse was built in 1914. The original courthouse continued to serve the community as city hall from 1883 to 1910 and was relocated across the street. It was moved again in 1910 and expanded to become a boarding house and remained as such until 1961. Fortunately, the The Dalles-Wasco County Museum Commission saved it from demolition and moved it to yet another location that year. It remained there until 1976 and was moved to Second Street next to the Chamber of Commerce and restored. The old courthouse was moved to this location in 1996 by the Original Wasco County Courthouse Preservation Corporation.

Sources

Ericksen, Marilyn & Vercouteren, Karl. "A Brief History of the 1859 Wasco Co. Courthouse, The Dalles, Oregon." Original Wasco County Courthouse Preservation Corporation. Accessed August 20, 2020. http://www.originalwascocountycourthouse.org/courthouse-history/a-brief-history.

Potter, Elisabeth Walton. "First Wasco County Courthouse." National Park Service - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. March 18, 1998. https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/9df0d5cc-a996-461a-afac-e2801d49a0ad.

Vercouteren, Karl. "The Old Wasco County Courthouse: Still Making History after 125 Years." Oregon Historical Quarterly, vol. 112, no. 1. https://www.ohs.org/research-and-library/oregon-historical-quarterly/upload/112_1-Vercouteren_Wasco-Courthouse.pdf.

Image Sources(Click to expand)

Ian Poellet, via Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:First_Wasco_County_Courthouse_-_The_Dalles_Oregon.jpg

Additional Information