Background
In the early spring of 2000, just after the county employees had moved into the new courthouse, a small group of Council folks met to talk about the future of the abandoned 1915 courthouse.

There were many questions. What could the building be used for? What kinds of repairs were needed? What would it take to restore the building to its original state? How much would all of this cost? Where would the money come from? Would it be better to tear the building down and use the space for something new? How did the rest of the community feel about the building? After a lot of discussion the group decided to set out to find answers to these questions.

The County Commissioners were supportive of the investigation and officially appointed the group as an ad hoc committee that became the Adams County Courthouse Restoration Committee.

The committee raised enough money in grants to have a professional feasibility study done on the building. The study was completed in the fall of 2002 and included two phases. First was a structural analysis and second was a use analysis. The study concluded that it was indeed feasible to restore the building and that its best use would be a "community cultural center."

The committee made recommendations to the commissioners based on the findings of the study. Everyone agreed it would be worthwhile to develop a plan for restoration and use. It was clear that the plan would have ambitious goals and that the original Courthouse Committee would need to strengthen and expand in order to accomplish the goals.

So Adams County became part of the Certified Local Government program and appointed a Historic Preservation Commission to begin working on a plan.

Current Activities                    
The Adams County Historic Preservation Commission (ACHPC) is currently working on that ambitious plan. The long-range goal is full restoration and use as a "community cultural center."

As of the spring of 2004, the ACHPC has received several grants that have enabled renovation projects to begin. These grants have come from the Idaho Heritage Trust, the Idaho Commission on the Arts, the Idaho Communities Foundation and the Idaho Historical Society.

In the summer of 2004, some of the plumbing was repaired and revamped to supply water to a couple of the bathrooms. Provisions were also made to more easily drain the water system for winter.

2005:

The most recent, and largest, grant was awarded by the Idaho Commission on the Arts. This $9,500 Cultural Facilities was used to convert the main, existing bathroom and a closet on the upper floor into two bathrooms. One of these is handicap accessible. This will make use of the courtroom for plays and musical performances more practical, as well as enhance general use of the building. Accessibility to the building will follow as grant money becomes available.

In its letter accompanying the grant award notification, the Arts Commission said,
”The single most important factor in the selection process was the quality of the work. To have succeeded in such a competition is an accomplishment well worthy of our compliments, our heartfelt applause. Endeavors such as yours augment and enhance not only the community where you live, but enrich the culture of other individuals and thereby the state as a whole.”

At right: The main, handicap accessible restroom when finished, May 2005.

For more photos of the restrooms and the project as it progressed, click here.

Plans for use of the old courthouse this summer include use during the Council Mountain Music Festival, August 20, for workshops and practice rooms. A possible music concert/silent movie fund-raiser in the old courtroom is being discussed for this season.