Graham County Courthouse (Arizona)

The current Graham County Courthouse is a courthouse located at 800 W. Main St. in Safford, Arizona that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is a two-story red brick building above a concrete foundation that includes a raised basement. The main part of the east-facing building is 83 feet (25 m) by 62 feet (19 m), and there is a one-story 17 feet (5.2 m) by 49 feet (15 m) north wing made of brick, and a small ell in the back.

Graham County Courthouse
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Front of the courthouse
Location	800 W. Main St., Safford, Arizona
Coordinates	32°49′59″N 109°42′57″W
Built	1916
Built by	Lutgerding & Eagan, Inc.
Architect	Lescher & Kibbey
Architectural style	Classical Revival, Neo-Classic
NRHP reference No.	82002077[1]
Added to NRHP	May 25, 1982

It is the fifth courthouse of the county, following one in Safford during 1881–83, two in Solomonville, Arizona during 1883–1915, and the 1901 Riggs building at Main and Central in Safford during 1915–16. After Arizona achieved statehood in 1912, Safford was chosen as the location for Graham's county seat in a 1915 election, moving it four miles west from Solomonville, the county seat since 1883.[2] A $50,000 bond was authorized to finance construction of a courthouse with courtrooms, offices, and jail. The Classic Revival/Neo-Classic style courthouse was built in 1916. Its construction cost $44,404.[3]

J. A. McAllister, a justice in the Arizona Supreme Court, and Jesse A. Udall, a chief justice of the Arizona Supreme Court, began their careers here.[3]^:6

In 1982, the interior public areas retained the original wooden moldings, interior doors, door trim, and wainscoting, and wooden balustrade and newel post of the main staircase. An ell at the back, 29 feet (8.8 m) by 49 feet (15 m), that held a jail, was demolished in 1978, leaving markings from where it joined on the current small ell at the back.[3]

It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.[1]

Although the building is historic, it still serves as location of Graham County's Superior Court, in 2016.[4]

References

1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
2. "Graham County Courthouses" (PDF). Retrieved July 14, 2016.
3. Thomas Rothweiler and Roger Brevoort (March 1982). "National Register of Historic Places Registration: Graham County Courthouse". National Park Service. Retrieved July 7, 2016. with five photos from 1980
4. "Clerk of the Superior Court, Graham County, Arizona". Retrieved July 14, 2016.