United States Department of the interior Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service

National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination Form

3 For HCRS use only

received

clate entered

See instructions in How to Complete National Register Forms Type all entries-complete applicable sections

P . Name historic Mercer County Courthouse

andior common

street & number Courthouse Square not for publication

citv, town Pr ince ton vicinity of congressional district Four t:h

state West V i r g i n i a code 54 county Mercer code 055

Category Ownership - district -& public 3- building(s) -- private

Status & occupied

unoccupied

Present U s e agriculture - museum commercial - park

structure both work in progress - educational private residence site Public Acquis i t ion Accessible - entertainment . religious

- object in process y e s : restricted 1C government scientific being considered X yes: unrestrictad industrial __ transportation

no - military other:

4. Owner of Property name Mercer County Court

- -

street & number Mercer County Courthouse

city, town Pr ince ton __ vicinity of st,te West V i r g i n i a

courthouse, registry of deeds, etc. Mercer County Courthouse

strset E4 number Courthouse S w a r e - - -- - - - -- -

city, town Pr ince ton state West V i r g i n i a

title has this property been determined elegible? yes lL no - date federal - state - countv - local

depository for survey records -- 1

city, town state

Description

Condition Check one Check one _X_ excellent - deteriorated unaltered 2- original site - good - ruins 1L altered m o v e d date

fair unexposed

Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance

The Mercer County Courthouse s t a n d s a t t h e c e n t e r of an e l l i p s e bounded by P r ince ton S t r ee t and Main S t r e e t , i n t h e bus ines s d i s t r i c t of Pr ince ton , West V i rg in i a . The four -s tory l imestone-faced bu i ld ing commands a n impressive p o s i t i o n a t o p a r i s e where i t s n e a r l y i d e n t i c a l f r o n t (north) and sou th ( r e a r ) e l e v a t i o n s may be viewed from downtown l o c a t i o n s .

Monumental scale 2s cchaed i n t h e 4-kL?ory ceni:?r bSock f lanked bj- zvo-story wings which extend beyorld t h e f r o n t a d s e a r facades of the c e n t r a l un ic . The b i s j i m e t r y of t h i s arrangement succeeds i n emphasizing t h e impressjve a r c h i t e c t u r a l d e t a i l of t h e c e n t r a l b lock f r o n t and r e a r e l e v a t i o n s d iv ided among s j x , two-story engaged square columns. MetaJ saab!, two s t o r y w i l i d ~ ~ s recesscd behind the c o l u m i i s l end a d d t t i o n a l v e r t i c a l ctiarae t er to t h e c e n t r a l U I L ~ t .

4' s e r f e s 'of ' d r c h i t e c t u r a l forms emerging from t h e minds of ' t r a d i t i o n - r e b e l l - i o u s d e s i g n e r s 'of Europe and America i n t h e f a t e 1920 ' s and 1930 ' s are found i n t h e Mercer County Courthouse. These i d e a s were spawned by a d e s i r e t o j e t t i s o n h i s t o r i c a l and t r a d i - t i o n a l forms i n hopes of c r e a t i n g a "modern" consensus. The s t y l e r ep re sen ted i n t h e Mercer County Courthouse r e p r e s e n t s such des ign purpose. Bui ld ings of t h i s a r c h i t e c t u r a l manner a r e f r e q u e n t l y c a l l e d " A r t Deco" o r 'Noderne"; i n t h e example of t h e Mercer County Court- house i t i s t h e most s p e c t a c u l a r r e p r e s e n t a t i o n of t h e 1930's e r a movement i n southern West V i r g i n i a .

Various hal lmarks of A r t Deco des ign s t and o u t i n t h e b u i l d i n g . The se tback , i n which r e c t i l i n e a r masses of unequal he igh t p lay a g a i n s t another , i s p re sen t a long t h e s i d e e l e v a t i o n s . Sharp, angu la r e d g e s ' a i d gene ra l f l a t n e s s of s u r f a c e i s c rea t ed by square o r r e c t i l f n e a r openings. Windows w i t h f l a n k i n g r ibbed borders form- impress ive Deco mot i f s i n t h e two-story recessed pane l s of t h e f ron t - f ac ing wings. Idea l i zed carved r e l i e f 6e- p i c t i n g a s h i e l d between f a s c e s embel l i shes each spandre l of t h e s i d e e l e v a t i o n s . Flanking t h e carved surround a t both t h e n o r t h and sou th en t r ances i s a r i c h l y carved f r i e z e r ep re sen t - i n g phases i n t h e h i s t o r i c a l development of t h e county. Above t h e colonnadein a broad f l a t e n t a b l a t u r e carved w i t h s i x medal l ions i s cen te red a magni f icent round s h i e l d adorned wi th symbols of j u s t i c e and f lanked by Roman f a s c e s . The d a t e , 1930, is carved beneath i n Roman numerals.

Upon c l a ~ e o b s e r v a t i o n , t h e appa ren t ly i d e n t i c a l n o r t h and sou th f r o n t s r evea l s u b t l e d i s s i m i l a r i t i e s . I n p l ace of r e l i e f s c u l p t u r e high on t h e sou th w a l l , a row of c l e r e s t o r y windows has been placed i n t h e n o r t h e r n coun te rpa r t .

I n t e r i o r space of t h e f i r s t f l o o r i s occupied by county o f f i c e s . The c e n t r a l c o r r i d o r may b e reached from t h e fou r major en t r ances t h a t a l l ow f o r convenient e n t r y from any d i r e c t i o n i n t h e community. The no r the rn s e c t i o n of t h e second f l o o r i s occupied by t h e c i r c u i t courtroom and j u d i c i a l chamber; t h e southern p a r t c o n t a i n s t h e c r imina l cour t - room. F i n i s h throughout i s b lack walnut o r i g i n a l l y rubbed t o a d u l l sheen t o match t h e walnut f u r n i t u r e . Cas t meta l newels and r a i l s a r e e s p e c i a l l y s i g n i f i c a n t f e a t u r e s of A r t Deco des ign i n t h e s t a i r h a l l s . The panels of t h e newel p o s t s a r e c a s t i n a v e r t i c a l row of f an - l i ke f i g u r e s , ano the r r e f e r e n c e t o i d e a l i z e d a r t forms. The decor of t h e courtrooms echoes t h e seve re , u n c l u t t e r e d l i n e s of t h e e x t e r i o r . Ce i l i ng pasterwork i s pa in ted i n c o l o r s of whi te , l i g h t yel low, and l i g h t b l u e .

(11 /78) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIO!?

HERITAGE CONSERVATION AND RECREATIOh SERVICE RECE f VED

NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM

Mercer County Courthouse , Mercer County, West V i r g i n i a

CONTl NU ATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER 7 PAGE 2

No a l t e r a t i o n s of consequence have impa i red t h e o r i g i n a l f a b r i c . A s t a t u e ( n o t o r i g i n a l l y on t h e grounds) honor ing s e t t l e m e n t p e r i o d r e s i d e n t s of Mercer County now f a c e s n o r t h f r o m t h e walkway of t h e Main S t r e e t e n t r a n c e .

8. Significance

Period prehistoric 1400-1 499 1500-1 599 1600-1699

- 1700-1 799 1800-1899 1900-

Areas of Significance-Check and justify below - archeology-prehistoric __ community planning - landscape a r c h i t e c t u r e religion - archeology-historic - conservation __ law science

agriculture economics literature - sculpture 2 architecture education military - social/ _X_ art engineering - music humanitarian

commerce - exploration'settlement -- philosophy - theater - eornmunications industry politics~governrnent - transportation

invention - other (specify)

Specific dates 1930-31 BuilderiArchitect Alex B . Mahood, a r c h i t e c t

Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) Boone,Eason and Wood, c o n t r a c t o r

The Mercer County Courthouse a t P r ince ton , Xe:r Vi rgrn iz , 55 oae o f t h e most s i g n i f i c a n t examples of Moderne a r c h i t e c t u r e i n southern \Jest V i r g i n i a . The v a r i o u s ha l lmarks of t h e s t y l e , popular i n t h e United S t a t e s from 1925 t o 1940, a r e present- i n t h e bu i ld ing . The e d i f i c e a l s o r e p r e s e n t s one of t h e most s i g n i f i c a n t achievements of Alex B , Mahood, a prominent a r c h i t e c t of B lue f i e ld , Mercer Lounty's l a r g e s t cFty.

Mercer County's p re sen t (1980) courthouse, b u i l t i n 1930-31, i s the s i x t h of a s e r i e s of b u i l d i n g s t h a t . h a s served t h e county es t h e s e a t of j u s t i c e and government. It rep laced t h e one b u i l t i n 1575. The courthouses of t h e county have not f a r e d we l l f r o m t h e d a t e of t h e c o u n t y ' s founding i n 1837. The second bu i ld ing was destroyed dur ing t h e C i v i l War, and t h e f o u r t h , b u i l t i n 1874, was burned t o t h e ground i n a susp ic ious f i r e of 1875. Qua l i t y of c o n s t r u c t i o n and s i z e , n o t t o mention the depa r tu re from t r a d i - t i o n a l a r c h i t e c t u r a l modes, d i s t i n g u i s h e s t h e p re sen t b u i l d i n g dedica ted i n 1931, and as - s u r e s i t a b r i g h t and s e c u r e f u t u r e .

A n a t i o n a l and i n t e r n a t i o n a l movement of p r o f e s s i o n a l s t o abandon t h e e c l e c t i c and h i s t o r i c r e v i v a l s of t h e e a r l y 20th cen tu ry i n f avo r of something modern o r "moderne" gave r i s e t o a n a r c h i t e c t u r a l mode i n t h e U n i t 4 S t a t e s of t h e 1930 ' s t h a t i s sometimes c a l l e d A r t Deco. The Mercer County Courthouse i s a s i g n i f i c a n t r e p r e s e n t a t i v e of t h i s s t y l e . . - ,

V e r t i c a l emphasis of t h e c e n t r a l b lock i s achieved i n t h e s l e n d e r , 2-s tory win- dows and squa re engaged columns. Geometrical f e a t u r e s and sha rp ang le s present themselves i n t h e hard l imes tone s u r f a c e of r e c t a n g l e s juxtaposed. Ornament i s s p a r s e and subord ina te t o f l a t s u r f a c e s . Reeded o r r ibbed s u r f a c e s , such a s t h e panels of f ron t - f ac ing windows i n t h e two-story b locks , echo t h e v e r t i c a l .

Despi te t h e Modernis t ic manner of t he bu i ld ing , e l e c t i c r e f e rences peer through. The en t r ance surrounds r e c a l l l i n e s of Egyptian pylons wi th b a t t e r e d w a l l s and bold , molded c o r n i c e s . C l a s s i c a l e lements a r e e s p e c i a l l y s t r o n g i n t h e two-story engaged colonnade a t t h e f r o n t and r e a r e l e v a t i o n s . It i s t h e combination of t h e s e elements w i th d e c o r a t i o n t h a t c r e a t e s a s t rong composition.

Rich examples of symbolic r e l i e f s c u l p t u r e a r e found on h igh ly v i s i b l e s u r f a c e s of t h e s t r u c t u r e . S t y l i z e d f a s c e s f i l l t h e spandre l s of t h e s i d e e l e v a t i o n s . Surmounting t h e colonnade of t h e n o r t h facade a n e a t l y designed round s h i e l d cen te red wi th symbols of j u s t i c e i s jo ined t o f l a n k i n g Roman f a s c e s wi th r ibbons . F r i e z e s above t h e f r o n t and r e a r en t r ances d e p i c t scenes i n t h e h i s t o r y and i n d u s t r y of Mercer County. The carv ings were executed from a p a i n t i n g by M r s . S.L. Mahood, mother of t h e a r c h i t e c t , who rece ived formal t r a i n i n g i n a r t i n both t h e United S t a t e s and Europe.

Alex B. Mahood (1888-1970) moved t o B l u e f i e l d from Lynchburg, V i r g i n i a i n 1912

t o s u p e r v i s e work on t h e Law Commerce Bui ld ing . He s tud ied a r c h i t e c t u r e i n t h e United

(11/78) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

HERITAGE CONSERVATION AND RECREATION SERVICE

~ A T I O N A L REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLA INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM

CES

Mercer County Courthouse , Mercer County, West V i r g i n i a

CONTI NUATION SHEET I T E M NUMBER F\ PAGE 7

S t a t e s and a t t h e E c o l e d e s Beaux-Arts, i n P a r i s . S e v e r a l prominent B l u e f i e l d landmarks , i n c l u d i n g t h e P e r r y B u i l d i n g and t h e West V i r g i n i a Ho te l , a r e h i s .

Countv Records of Mercer . Book 1 2 , p p . 561,566,569,574; Book 1 3 , pp. 89,282,287. . .--- - - a . - - " ~ i n e ~ ~ e w ~ o u r t G u s e t o b e Dedica ted Today". Bluef i e l d D a i l y Te legraph . Aug . 8 ,

1931, pp. 1,5. Hedr ick , C h a r l e s B. O f f i c i a l --- Blue Book of Mercer County, West V i r g i n i a . Mercer

. Geographical Data Acreage of nominated roperty acre

F r i n c e t o n , West V i r g i n i a Quadrangle name

1:24 ,000 Quadrangle scale -

UMT References

Zone Easting Northing

Verbal boundary description and justification Centered on an e l l i p s e (to.rnL s q u a r e ) bounded by P r i n c e t o n S t r e e t t o t h e s o u t h , Main S t r e e t t o t h e n o r t h , and s t r e e t s t o t h e e a s t and w e s t , w h i c h form t h e s i d e s of t h e e l l i p s e c o n n e c t i n g P r i n c e t o n and Main. -

hist ail states and counties for p r o p e r t i e s overlapping state or county boundarie?i

state code county code

state code county code

nameititle Rodney S . C o l l i n s . A r - c t u r a l H i s t o r i a n

organization W sV. Dept . of C u l t u r e and H i s t o r y date J u l y 14 . 1980

street & number The C u l t u r a l C e n t e r , C a p i t o l Complex telephone 304L3.48-0244

city or town C h a r l e s t o n state . West V i r g i n i a

%ate Historic reservation Ofbic -

The evaluated significance of this property within the state is:

national - state local

As the designated State Historic Preservation Officer for the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Public Law 8% 655), 1 hereby nominate this property for inclusion in the National Register and certify that i t has been evaluated according to the criteria and procedures set forth by the Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service.

State Historic Preservation Officer signature

title S t a t e H i s t o r i c P r e s e r v a t i o n O f f i c e r date

For HCRS use only ! 3 %

I hereby certify that this property is included in the National Register

date i 1

Keeper of the National Register

* .

Attest: date -- Chief of Registration \ .

G P O 938 835

FHR-8-300A (11/78)

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR HERITAGE CONSERVATION AND RECREATION SERVICE

1 .TIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM

Mercer County Courthouse , Mercer County, West V i r g i n i a

CONTI NU AT lON SHEET ITEM NUMBER g PAGE 2

County Bluebook A s s o c i a t i o n , 1931. n . p .

% (C c:, +

<o U N I T E D STATES