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Courthouse Feature: A Treasure
A Treasure
Lonoke County judge is dedicated to preserving historic courthouse.
Story and photos by Holly Hope Arkansas Historic Preservation Program
The 1928 Lonoke County Courthouse in Lonoke is the third seat of government for the county. When it was built, The Lonoke Democrat stated it would probably be adequate for the “next fifty years.” In fact, it has outlasted the previous buildings by several decades. Little Rock architect H. Ray Burks designed the Lonoke County Courthouse in the Neo-Classical style. The red brick veneer of the building was complimented with limestone details, including cartouche keystones, full-height Doric columns, urn balustrades, paneled friezes, and Art Deco ornamentation. Each elevation of this public building is exuberantly articulated, resulting in an impressive classic presentation appropriate to a seat of government.
Lonoke County was created from Pulaski and Prairie counties in 1873. That same year the town of Lonoke was appointed the county seat, making it the only city in Arkansas by the same name as the county. An existing two-story frame house was used as the official Lonoke County courthouse in the year of formation. A fire in 1881 destroyed the structure, so the county rented several spaces, including a funeral home, for official business. In 1884 the Circuit Court selected a commission to propose a new courthouse. An architect was hired, and a two-story brick building with Italianate influences was completed in 1885 for $15,000.
By the 1920s, the courthouse had deteriorated and the county had outgrown the building. The Lonoke County Quorum Court approved new construction for a courthouse and jail in 1924, and a formal contract for the construction of the county’s third courthouse was executed in 1927. The Courthouse Commission approved Burks’ plans in 1925 and notice was let for construction bids. Nov. 15, 1927, was scheduled for the formal ground breaking and a holiday was declared. The laying of the cornerstone took place on May 14, 1928. Sen. Joseph T. Robinson of Lonoke County was the featured speaker for an estimated crowd of 2,000 people who were entertained with singing, speeches, and circling airplanes.
Left: The Lonoke County Courthouse, the third one for the county, was designed in a mixture of Classical, Doric, Roman, and Georgian architecture. Top left: Grey Italian marble wainscoting lines the hallways. The polychrome cream and maroon floor tiles keep the grey of the walls from muting the presentation. Top right: The 1928 Lonoke County Courthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. Right: The courtroom is an open, brightly lit room.
The symmetrical elevations of the four-story building with full basement display a combination of Classical, Doric, Roman, and Georgian architecture. The front, west façade is articulated in an orderly fashion by two corner bays flanking a central, full-height portico. Floor-to-ceiling multi-paned Roman arched windows and large double-hung openings light the second and third floors. These windows are visually anchored between floors through the use of cast stone panels and stretcher bricks. This device enables the disparate openings to read as continuous vertical elements. A similar mechanism is employed on the north and south corner bays.
Centered curving cast stone steps carry the eye to the double wood and glass doors of the main entrance. Roman influence also is utilized on the doors in the form of a stone arch with decorative keystone and moldings featuring geometric details. Art Deco wrought-iron grids embellish the doors and associated fanlight. Doors often suffer inappropriate alterations or destruction, but the Department of Arkansas Heritage provided $15,000 to the county for restoration of the north, south and west doors in 1997, maintaining an important aspect of the historic exterior.
Full-height Doric columns and pilasters create a five-bay portico in the center of the façade. Stone urn balustrades span the voids between columns on the second floor. The main elevation is further dramatized with a centered full-height Roman window above the second floor entry doors. Georgian Revival elements are expressed here in the use of a multi-light fan transom within a stone Roman arch and decorative keystone. The complex window of stationary and awning components is situated behind a classical cast stone balconette with urn balustrade and heavy stone brackets. A continuous stone frieze traversing three elevations of the building at the rooftop parapet displays a centered relief carving reading “Lonoke County Courthouse.” A segmented arch above the frieze exhibits an elaborate foliated date stone.
The north and south elevations of the courthouse are mirror images, and although these are subordinate entrances, the
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symmetrical and vertical Classical order seen on the front façade is carried through. Burks also utilized linear devices in the form of projecting entry bays, secondary projecting stairwell bays, linear stone elements, and window surrounds. Other stone details on this bay include flanking Doric columns rising to a heavy entablature that supports the surround of a Roman entry arch, a large foliated keystone, coping at the inverted arch of the bay’s parapet, and slender stone decorative panels. An added vertical element on this elevation is a brickwork line of basket weave diamond shapes.
While impressively appointed, the interior spaces are not overwhelmed by busy details. After the active architecture of the exterior, it lends a degree of calm and dignity appropriate to the building’s use. The central entrance foyer features heavy cross beams and an original light fixture. Classical details are exhibited in Roman arches, large multi-pane fanlights and pronounced cornice molding. Grey Italian marble wainscoting lines the hallways. The polychrome cream and maroon floor tiles keep the grey of the walls from muting the presentation. A light, wrought-iron balustrade at the north and south staircases complements the delicate eighteen-light entrance doors and multi-pane fanlights. The courtroom is an open, brightly lit room featuring floor-to-ceiling arched windows. Light paneled walls are an appropriate contrast to the dark wood of the coffered judge’s bench and graceful turned spindle bar between the counsel area and gallery. Pronounced molding creates a Roman arch behind the judge’s bench. Centered in the arch is a small stained glass window with decorative molding that lights the fourth floor interior hallway. In a 1978 renovation, a 100-seat balcony was removed from the rear of the Circuit Courtroom.
The fourth floor is hidden behind a brick parapet at the roof level. At the time of the building’s construction this was touted as a method of preventing escape from the rooftop jail, as well as camouflage to hide the utilitarian struc-
ture. No longer used as such, the county received a $10,000 grant from the Department of Arkansas Heritage in 1994 to convert the jail for storage. The Lonoke County jail associated with the 1885 courthouse was a separate building, which was considered inconvenient. The current courthouse incorporated the old jail cells within 9-inch reinforced conThe county has retained an interest in the historic integrity of this complex crete walls on a 6-inch concrete floor. Two original barred doors and solid steel doors remain. A dumbwaiter to take building, and in fact, County Judge Doug food from the first floor to the jail is intact within a closet. Erwin has stated his main goal is the preser- The historic Lonoke County Courthouse was listed on the vation of the courthouse. National Register of Historic Places on June 8, 1982. Fortunately, the county has retained an interest in the historic integrity of this complex building, and in fact, County Judge Doug Erwin has stated that his main goal is the preservation of the courthouse. As with the 1885 structure, the county has outgrown the building and the possibility of moving the justice center closer to the Lonoke County Jail has been discussed. However, Judge Erwin stated he would like to see the county retain the 1928 Lonoke County Courthouse “forever.” Among the many programs and services of the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program is the County Courthouse Restoration Grant Program. Created in 1989, this grant program has helped to extend the lives of courthouses that hold vital links to community pride and local history. These grants are funded through the Real Estate Transfer Tax, administered by the Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council. Since the beginning of the program, the AHPP has awarded $24 million to 74 historic courthouses and courthouse annexes around the state for use in rehabilitating, preserving and protecting these important historic resources. Since 1994, Lonoke County has received nine grants totaling $320,300 from the Department of Arkansas Heritage. AHPP County Courthouse Restoration Grants awarded for Lonoke County Courthouse FY1994 Jail conversion $10,000 FY1995 Exterior cleaning and repair $15,000 FY1996 Complete 1994 grant repairs; replace wrought-iron fence $5,000 FY1997 Restoration of north, south and west doors $15,000 FY2003 Install chairlift $40,000 FY2004 Install ADA components for courtroom, restrooms $40,000 FY2006 ADA components for restrooms $9,000 FY2013 Masonry repair $45,000 FY2014 Elevator $141,300
