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Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Oregon City #20: Clackamas County Courthouse

801 Main Street

IMG_2780 Clackamas County Courthouse in Oregon City, Oregon on August 19, 2006
Clackamas County Courthouse on August 19, 2006

The Clackamas County Courthouse was built in 1936. It replaced an earlier courthouse built in 1884 in the same location. Today it mainly houses state court offices.

IMG_2781 Clackamas County Courthouse in Oregon City, Oregon on August 19, 2006
Clackamas County Courthouse on August 19, 2006

The courthouse features some impressive Native American-inspired architectural details.

IMG_2782 Clackamas County Courthouse in Oregon City, Oregon on August 19, 2006
Clackamas County Courthouse on August 19, 2006

Historical Photo:
Clackamas County Courthouse, Feb. 1960 (Salem Public Library)

IMG_2813 Clackamas County Courthouse in Oregon City, Oregon on August 19, 2006
Clackamas County Courthouse on August 19, 2006

Two historical markers are in front of the courthouse. One was placed in November, 1946 by the Oregon City Chamber of Commerce. The monument was sponsored by the Oregon Council of the American Pioneer Trails Association and gives historical information about early Oregon City, the Oregon Trail and the Barlow Road.

IMG_2786 Plaque at Clackamas County Courthouse in Oregon City, Oregon on August 19, 2006
Old Oregon Trail Plaque on August 19, 2006

Historical Photo:
Oregon Trail Plaque, August 1948 (Salem Public Library)

The second monument was placed by the Oregon City Hilltop Boosters in April, 1977. It is dedicated to William Simon U'Ren, a blacksmith and lawyer who authored the provisions in Oregon's constitution for initiative referendum and recall, leading him to be known as the father of Oregon's enlightened system of government.

IMG_2783 William Simon U'Ren Plaque at Clackamas County Courthouse in Oregon City, Oregon on August 19, 2006
William Simon U’Ren Plaque on August 19, 2006

There is a plaza next to the courthouse on its north side. This plaza was once the site of the Liberty Theatre. The theater was built in 1921. It closed in 1960 and became an 88 Cent Store, which later became known as Sav-A-Dollar. Clackamas County purchased the building in 1990. The upper floor was rented for office use. Sav-A-Dollar closed in 1991 and the county began using the main floor for records storage. The office tenant moved out in the mid-1990s and the building was demolished in 2004.

Liberty Theatre at the Puget Sound Theatre Organ Society

IMG_9113 Ralph M. Holman Law Center in Oregon City, Oregon on September 26, 2007
Ralph M. Holman Law Center on September 26, 2007

Another Clackamas County building is on the other side of Liberty Plaza from the courthouse, occupying the corner at the other end of the block.

IMG_9112 Ralph M. Holman Law Center Plaque in Oregon City, Oregon on September 26, 2007
Ralph M. Holman Plaque on September 26, 2007

In July, 2007, this building was dedicated the Ralph M. Holman Law Center by Oregon's Fifth Judicial District and Clackamas County Commissioners Martha Schrader, Lynn Peterson, Bill Kennemer and Larry Sowa.

IMG_7887 Ralph M. Holman Law Center Dedication Band in Oregon City, Oregon on July 20, 2007
Bagpipers for the dedication of the Ralph M. Holman Law Center on July 20, 2007

Ralph M. Holman was a descendent of Oregon pioneers who settled in Clackamas County. He served as a Clackamas County Circuit Court Judge from 1950 to 1965 and was an Oregon Supreme Court Justice from 1965 to 1980.

IMG_7888 Ralph M. Holman Law Center Dedication Band in Oregon City, Oregon on July 20, 2007
Bagpipers for the dedication of the Ralph M. Holman Law Center on July 20, 2007

The Ralph M. Holman Law Center was dedicated "in honor of his distinguished public service and philanthropic contributions to citizens of Clackamas County and to the State of Oregon."

Continue to 21: S.P.R.R. Undercrossing

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