Owyhee County Courthouse

The Owyhee County Courthouse in Murphy, Idaho, is a 1-story Art Deco building designed by Tourtellotte & Hummel and constructed in 1936. The brick building features a prominent entry with fluted pilasters on either side of a square arch, with foliated sunburst panels that frame an entablature of floral, triangular, and wavelet designs. A panel above the entry reads, "Owyhee County Courthouse." The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.[2]

Owyhee County Courthouse
The Owyhee County Courthouse in 2019
Location20381 State Highway 78, Murphy, Idaho
Coordinates43°13′01″N 116°33′01″W
Arealess than one acre
Built1936 (1936)
ArchitectTourtellotte & Hummel
Architectural styleModern Movement, Art deco
MPSTourtellotte and Hummel Architecture TR
NRHP reference No.82000357[1]
Added to NRHPNovember 17, 1982

History

Owyhee County was organized in Idaho Territory in 1863, and the county seat was first at Ruby City (1863-1867), then at Silver City (1867-1934), and in 1934 voters moved the county seat to Murphy.[3] The Idaho State Legislature ratified the move in 1999, officially changing the Idaho Code to reflect the relocation from Silver City to Murphy.[4]

In 1936 the county built a new courthouse on what was then a section of State Highway 45, now State Highway 78, at Murphy.[5] A dancehall had been the temporary courthouse, and it burned in 1939.[6]

The Owyhee County Courthouse was renovated and expanded in 1973, with 1-story brick additions at either end of the original structure.[7]

The only parking meter in Owyhee County was installed at the courthouse in the early 1950s.[8][9]

See also

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
  2. "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Owyhee County Courthouse". National Park Service. Retrieved May 6, 2019. With accompanying pictures
  3. Walt Schramm (January 24, 1960). "Town of Murphy, Owyhee County Seat, Rates High as One of Most Unusual in Country". Idaho Statesman. Boise, Idaho. p. 26.
  4. Tim Woodward (January 25, 1999). "65 Years in Wrong Town". Idaho Statesman. Boise, Idaho.
  5. "Court to Meet in New Building". Idaho Statesman. Boise, Idaho. May 14, 1936. p. 20.
  6. "It wasn't very much of a fire...". Idaho Statesman. Boise, Idaho. April 30, 1939. p. 6.
  7. "Local Art Works May Adorn Revamped Owyhee Courthouse". Idaho Statesman. Boise, Idaho. February 9, 1974. p. 14.
  8. "Jet". Johnson Publishing Co. August 21, 1980. p. 19. Retrieved May 6, 2019.
  9. "Penny Kills Lone Meter in Owyhee". Idaho Statesman. Boise, Idaho. September 9, 1966. p. 19.
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