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About The Coquille Valley sentinel. (Coquille, Coos County, Or.) 1921-2003 | View Entire Issue (June 6, 1996)
~4- 1954 REMODELING In 1954 the prediction of a larger more modem building became a reality when the 1916 structure was remod eled and enlarged. It was dedicated January 23,1954. Mayor Don Farr gave the address. The invocation was by Rev. Jean Clark, Rector, St. James Episcopal Church. Music was by the Coquille High School Band under the direction of ELECTED COUNTY OFFICIALS IN 1954 WERE: James W. Harrison, county judge; Fred Kruse, commissioner; Fred True, commissioner; C.G. Caughell, asses sor; Georgianna Vaughn, county clerk; Lillian Farley, county school superin tendent; W.H. Howell, sheriff; Clara Stauff, treasurer, Dal M. King, circuit court judge (his grandson, Dal King, is manager of Coos Curry Federal Credit Union in Coquille); John Pickett, dis trict attorney; Jess Barton, justice of the peace, Coquille (his granddaughter, Mary Barton, is Coos County treasurer); Thomas Swanton, justice of the peace, Coos Bay, and Brewer Mills, Coos County coroner. The Coos County Court in 1954 was Fred True, Judge James Harrison and Fred Kruse. The west wing being dedicated cost $258,000. The east wing built in 1951, cost $177,968. The old hall of records built in 1916 and added on to the origi nal structure, cost $37,000. COOS COUNTY COURT: (left to right) Fred C. True, Judge James Harrison, and Fred A. Kruse. COUNTY COURT» JOURNAL 1896-89 Page 260 "In the Matter of the Building of the Courthouse and Jail at Coquille City": Whereas at the November 1896 elec tion, the voters of Coos County, Or egon, by a decided majority relocated the county seat of Coos County, Or egon at Coquille City in said county and state from and after July 1, 1897 and whereas the court has examined the rooms and buildings offered for offices and their purposes for the county offi cials at Coquille City, finds that so long as the officials, are in temporary quar ters it will be a sourceof annoyance and inconvenience to them and extra ex pense to the county on account there of that the county will be without a suit able place to keep its prisoners. There fore in view of these facts and also the fact that in the near future Coos County must build a suitable courthouse and jail and that under present conditions and the low prices of material and labor a. building can be erected at less cost than may be done in the future. It is the opinion of the court and the court finds that it will be expedient and for the best interest of the people Of Coos County to It's in the Book! 1898 Courthouse as it appeared in 1953 ' 7 Carroll Nickels. build and compjete a suitable court- house and jail,at Coquille City at as early <day as is consistent and possible. And whereas a number of architects have submitted plans and specifica tions for the courthouse for Coos County for the consideration of the Court to wit: " (listed on page 260-261 in the 1896-1898 journal. Jail specifications are listed on page 361.)
