| Address: | 201 S. Jones Ave, Norman, Oklahoma | County: | Cleveland |
| Started: | Completed: | 1939 | |
| Agencies: | PWA, WPA | NRHP: | December 28, 2000 |
Current Usage:
County Courthouse
Description:
The Cleveland County Courthouse is a striking Art Deco style building designed by Walter T. Vahlberg and constructed by the Tankersley Construction Company of Oklahoma City. Built by the PWA in 1938 using a approved $94,000 grant and county bond issue that was passed for the remaining funds. Tankersley Construction completed the courthouse at a total cost of $209,090. Constructed of limestone for the foundation and walls, this three story building has historic front doors of metal and glass with Art Deco designs. The original 1906 Courthouse that was behind the new structure was demolished by WPA workers in the early 1940s. Constructed of limestone the building is three stories high with a partial above ground basement. Two additions in rear of the building were added later.
The Cleveland County Courthouse has a flat roof which has been covered with asphalt. The building features metal doors and windows. Historically, the courthouse windows were metal, single light casements but, at an unknown date, the majority of windows were altered to modern, metal, hung. The foundation of the building is limestone, matching the upper walls. On the northeast corner of the building’s foundation is a blue granite cornerstone. The cornerstone was put in place in late March 1940 when the building was nearing completion. Sealed inside the cornerstone was a copper box which contained the 1939 golden anniversary issue of the local newspaper and other pertinent records. The cornerstone on the east side reads :
"FEDERAL EMERGENCY ADMINISTRATION OF PUBLIC WORKS/FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT/PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES/HAROLD L. ICKES/ADMINISTRATOR OF PUBLIC WORKS/CLEVELAND COUNTY COURT HOUSE/1939"
The north side of the cornerstone reads :
"BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS/HUGH ROBERTS, CHAIRMAN/J.T. WASHBURN, MEMBER/GEO. F. CHURCH, MEMBER/VIRGIL YOUNG, COUNTY CLERK/WALTER T. VAHLBERG, ARCHITECT/TANKERSLEY CONSTRUCTION CO./CONTRACTORS.
Sources:
- Oklahoma Landmarks Inventory Nomination
- AMERICA BUILDS: THE RECORD OF PWA. WASHINGTON, DC: GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, 1939; THE STORY OF PWA: BUILDING FOR RECOVERY. WASHINGON DC:GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, 1939
Supported Documents:
Photos:
Leave a Reply