10
Monday, September 22.1975
University Dally Kansan
Courthouse historically important
By BRUCE SPENCE
Staff Writer
"The laying of the cornerstone of the new Douglas County courthouse, which will be tomorrow forenoon, will be an event in the history of the city," began a prophetic article in the Lawrence Daily Journal-World on July 3, 1903.
It did indeed prove to be historic, if only for the reason that the building, at Eleventh and Massachusetts streets, was to provide a more accessible facility, previously transient Douglas County offices.
The Kansas Historical Society in Topeka considered the building of enough historical buildings to accommodate the November for entry in the National Register of Historic Places, a publication of the National Park Service that lists historical buildings and sites throughout the state.
Richard Pankratz, director of the historic sites survey of the Kansas Historical Society, said yesterday there were three students in the courthouse was listed in the register:
—It's the work of noted Lawrence architect John G. Haske.
It's a fine example of a turn-of-the-century courthouse.
—It's important in the county's history as the only seat of county government.
PANKRATZ SAID that the courthouse, which was entered in the National Register in April of this year, was only one of 18 Douglas County entries in the register.
Kansas has a total of 196 sites listed in the National Register, he said.
Initially, the boundaries of Douglas County were defined by the territorial legislature in July, 1855, and a probate judge, J. N. Wood, was appointed to organize a board of commissioners to transact county business.
The authority to transact county business, however, was derived from the territorial legislature through which the pro-slavery legislation in Missouri intended to rule Kansas Territory.
UNTIL FREEP-STATE settlers secured a majority in the territorial legislature and was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.
January, 1958, Lecompte, which was the territorial capital, but the county offices.
Lawrence at that time wasn't even an incorporated town despite an 1853 law prohibiting such. The townpeople refused to recognize the pro-slavery legislature and did not accept it.
A charter application to the Topela free-state legislature was unsuccessful, since that body, not wanting to assume responsibility for the action, refused to act on it.
The people of Lawrence submit a memorial ovation to the city, 1887, an act which the governor labeled as "a rebellion." He promptly sent 400 soldiers to Lawrence from Ft. Leavenworth, declared war on them.
The legislature recognized Lawrence as an incorporated city in February, 1858, and was elected to a state senate.
County commissioners had moved in December, 1857, before Lecompte to Lawrence, two months before Lawrence was incorporated.
COUNTY OFFICES were first located in
Construction
Staff Photo
Construction has begun on a new city-county judicial center. The
site is directly behind the courthouse at 11th and Massachusetts streets.
Judicial services focused
Bv BRENT ANDERSON
The new city-county judicial center, after being redesigned three times since it was first planned six years ago, should be completed by July 1976.
Stan Harris, architect for Peters, Williams and Kubota, the Lawrence firm that designed the building, said the judicial committee has more changed to meet the specifications on we are houses in the building.
According to Harris, the structure, being built directly east of the Douglas County Courthouse, 1100 Massachusetts St., will cost about $4 million.
All courts within Douglas County will be in the new building, including the Municipal Court, District Court (Divisions I and II), Court and the Juvenile Court. Harris said.
The Lawrence Police Department and the Douglas County Sheriff's Office will move their operations to the new complex, Harris said. The Douglas County Jail, which is now next to the courthouse, will be moved to the new judicial building, he said.
Planning for the judicial center started more than six years ago when the Douglas County Commission voted to construct a jail, which would be the county jail, the sheriff's office and the courts.
The new building became necessary as both the city and county outgrew the police department headquarters, 745 Vermont St., and the county courthouse, he said.
For some time after the raid, county business was transacted at the jail until uncle David was born.
Morrow House, a hotel managed by Robert Morrow, until the hotel and its contents were burned in August, 1863, by William Quantrill. The destruction of records involved many land titles and caused headaches for landowners for years.
When the city commission voted to give $955,000 in revenue-sharing funds to support the project, Harris said, an agreement was reached between the city and county commissions to house the police department and the municipal court in the new building.
The three-level judicial center will accommdate police vehicles in the basement level.
The ground level of the building will contain the courts and related offices, including the county court clerk, the Clerk of Court, the county attorney's office, Harris said.
The police and sheriff's headquarters will be on the side of the top level of the building, he said. The jail facilities will be on the east side.
Several buildings on Massachusetts St. topped city offices offens 1881, when the city was formed.
County offices remained there until the present courthouse was built in 1903.
In 1899 a proposition by county commissioners to levy a special tax for the county building was voted on and approved by a big majority of Douglas County voters.
J. B. Watkins, who owned a bank across the street from the courthouse, donated the land to the county in March of 1929 and by the following year, excavation had begun.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS were deadlocked over who the architect was to be and the issue was resolved when John G. Winnell, a Kansas City agreed to form an association.
Despite the great Kaw flood of May, 1903, which took a heavy toll in lives and property, the cornerstone was laid with "the duree coronum" on July 4, 1903.
Work was completed early in 1904 for $8,500, $5,000 over the estimated cost. For the first time, county offices had a permanent home.
BUT THROUGH the years, settling in the heavy west wall took its toll, and in the 1940s efforts were made to buttress the resulting cracked foundation. The interior walls and partitions were also reinforced and redecorated at that time.
A copper box was placed in the cornerstone, containing papers and items of interest to the family.
The courthouse soon will have some additional remodeling with $600,000 in revenue-sharing funds earmarked for the project.
Peter A. Whitengen, member of the board of county commissioners, said that work will begin after county and law offices move from the courthouse to the new county-city center. The center is under construction and due to be finished late next year.
Construction of the center should be completed in July 1976, according to Ron Allen, project supervisor for the general contractor, B. A. Green Construction Company, Inc.
ARCHITECTS HAVE been hired to supervise the renovations, Whaiten said, and are now surveying courthouse offices to determine what work is needed.
Our first party will be coming up this Friday night,
Sept. 26 at the National Guard Armory. The party begins at 8:00 p.m., and the band "BLUEBEARD," will begin at 9:00 p.m. and play until 12 midnight. Sophomore Class Card Holders will be admitted For a One Dollar cover charge. For all the FREE BEER you can drink and the Live Music, anyone else can attend for a small fee of just Three Dollars! Sophomore Class Card Holders will be sure to attend so that you will be able to Pick up Your "Kansas 78 Class T-shirt!"
He said that renovations would include addition of air conditioning and replacement of plumbing, heating and wiring. He also said that the building would be made more accessible to the handicapped.
SOPHOMORES
Whitengin said the work would probably begin early in 1977.
The courthouse will be renovated, Whitenight said, with the idea of maintaining the architectural integrity of the building.
Come and bring your friends All the excitement begins at 8:00 p.m. Friday, the 26th of Sept.
DON'T MISS IT!
The Pearson Integrated Humanities Program (PIHP) and several people from Lawrence have organized to raise money for a memorial to Beuerman.
The memory of Leo A. Beuerman will
include his class at the campus group has anything to say about it.
Beuerman was a paraplegic. He was deaf. And he was a dwarf. Despite these handicaps, he farmed, drove a tractor and continued to commute to Lawrence to sell pens.
Yankee Tank fair aids Leo Beuerman memorial
Until he went blind six years ago, Beauermad had special permission from the city to park his tractor on the corner of a Massachusetts street where he sold pencils.
"He was the most distinguished citizen Lawrence ever had," John Senior, professor of comparative literature, said. "He was a visionary. He was Lawrence citizens who baffled Benguerian,
Money from the third annual PIPH Yankee Tank fair will help pay for the costs of the memorial. The completion date is uncertain because those working on the construction of the memorial are donating their time.
The memorial's inscription is, "Izo A. Beauerman, Distinguished Citizen of Lawrence. Remember me? I'm that little man I used to sell pencils on the street corner."
The memorial will be located at Eighth and Massachusetts, the corner where
Bernard "Poco" Frazier, professor of architecture and urban design and painting and sculpture, is in charge of the design. Frazier is a sculptor in residence at KU.
Jim Patti, owner of Patti Shoe Service,
will sculpt the relief and Malcolm
Frazier, son of "Poco" Frazier,
will engrave the inscription.
841 Mass.
842-2828
After Beuerman went blind, he made the PIRH number of the PIRH gold in the King's Cup.
"You went out to make him feel better and instead, he made you feel better," Sally Jenkins, Omaha, Neb., senior said. Jenkins is in charge of the funds for the memorial.
We're looking for certain majors to become Lieutenants.
The Air Force needs people, many with the above age, to have several different professional programs. We have several 4-year, 3-year or 2-year programs, some offering 10 weeks of a month, a month allowance during the training period, grampy. Flying opportunities, leading to an Air Force career, plus advanced education; plus air force training in these Air Force benefits, start
If you'd like to cash in on these Air Force benefits, start by looking into the Air Force ROTC.
Mechanical and civil engineering majors . aerospace majors . electronics majors . majors in elec-
tronics . computer science
Inquire in Room 108, Military Science Building, University of Kansas. Phone 864-6476
Put it all together in Air Force ROTC
Introductory Program featuring "Power of Love," a film of Guru Maharakaji Gh. speaking about his meditation called knowledge
Wesco Hall, Room 4012 Tuesday, Sept. 23 7:30 p.m.
MEDITATION
Meditation changes people. It is the one natural way for man to improve himself from within.
Sponsored by Divine Information Center
Sponsored by Drine Information Center
842-5274
Instruction is Free
sky