| OCR Text |
Show PERIOD (Check One or More as Appropriate) Pre-Columbian Q] 16th Century [J 18th Century | | 15th Century Q 17th Century Q 19th Century Q 20th Century Q SPECIFIC DATE(S) (If Applicable and Known) AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE (Check One or More as .Appropriate,) Aboriginal Education CH Political Prehistoric | | Engineering | | Religion/Phi- Historic | | Industry | | losophy | Invention [ | JQ Agriculture [ D Commerce | Communications Q Literature [ | Conservation | Military | | Theater |~] Music | | Transportation Q | | STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE Architecture tj] [ 1 Other (Specify) I I Q Art |P«ta«p» Urban Planning Science [~| Sculpture D Social/Humanitarian [~| (Include Personages, Dates, Events, Etc.) Beaver County had been created by the Territorial Legislature in 1855. General management of the county was entrusted to the County Court which consisted of a probate judge and three selectmen, who jointly possessed the power of the County Commissions today. In 1876 the 6,000 inhabitants of the county elected to build Beaver County Courthouse to house the Second Judicial District Court of the Territory of Utah, u r> C£ it/> z: UJ Because of Indian unrest during the Black Hawk War, the trials of John D. Lee, associated with the Mountain Meadows Massacre, and a general desire on the part of the Federal government to maintain a watchful eye over "Mormons" to the south, both the courthouse, the seat of Federal authority, and Fort Cameron, with Federal troops nearby, played significant roles in the lives of these early Utahns. In fact, William Stokes, a former Union soldier, directed the building of the courthouse. The architect is unknown. Although begun in 18?6, the courthouse was not completed until 1882, at a cost of $10,960. FTre partially destroyed the structure in 1889, but it was soon rebuilt wTth many improvements. Later additions to the rear include a 32 r x 29' vault and a jail. The second trail of John D. Lee was held in the Second Judicial District Court In Beaver, U.T. during December 18?6, The courthouse, only in early excavation stages at the time, was not the site for these trials. Nevertheless, this lovely courthouse rejains in use today by Beaver County, an emblem of the pretentious construction in public buildings during the Territorial period. It also symbolizes the Federal Government's attempts to govern and "observe" the Mormons during a period when the practice of Polygamy heightened those conflicts. |
