ARCHITECTURE
Modern American with classic tradition By Sandy Compton
A
rchitecture is a highly diverse art, rich in definitions of what is what and how they might go together. From abacus to zigzag, hundreds of features indicate dozens of styles from Adam to Victorian. Sandpoint has many intriguing architectural features, especially in our iconic “elderly” buildings. Searching out the best is somewhat like an archaeological dig. Many original features have been buried by time. Given that, many Sandpoint buildings might be described as the North Idaho News did with an architect’s drawing for a new city hall in October 1904: “The design cannot be placed in any definite style. Perhaps it would be called ‘Modern American with classic tradition.’ ” The building depicted was never built, but the City Hall that was built – six years later – still fit the original description. The building at Second and Main still looks much like it did back then, with arched windows and corners delineated by white stone and a south doorway topped with a stone and brick arch and a cement capstone with an inscription – City Hall Sept 1910. One original window on the west wall was replaced by a door that at one time served the police and fire departments. Missing is the cupola directly above the main door that housed the fire bell. It was removed in 1952 – not a minute too soon – relieving the roof of 8 ugly tons. City Hall was designed by S. Willis Foster and H.L. Mountjoy, who worked together and separately on many Sandpoint buildings. I have forgiven Mountjoy the cupola (it must have been Foster’s idea) because his design of Community Hall in the 200 block of South First is a beautiful example of a log building listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was finished in 1936, built by the Works
Real Estate
Historic architecture
County Clerk Ignatz Weil (top row, second from right) built the Bonner County Courthouse, where he was photographed circa 1909 with other county officials in the original entrance facing First Avenue. The wealthy businessman also built the house next door to the courthouse. bonner County historiCaL soCiety MuseuM CoLLeCtion
Progress Administration for use by the Boy Scouts of America. The frame addition on the south end was added by the USO late in World War II. Across the street is the Bonner County Courthouse, designed by George Williams of Coeur d’Alene for County Clerk Ignatz Weil. Weil at first owned the building and rented it to the county after it was finished, finally, in 1909. It was built with arched windows and doors on the ground floor and decorative highlights of white brick. Speaking architecturally, the architrave was decorated with a zigzag, and the frieze and cornice rose at each corner. A taller section of entablature broke the line of the cornice above the front door and emphasized the entrance. Got that? By 1937, after the first of a still-ongoing series of overhauls, the zigzag was all that was left of the original entablature and the arch over the entrance was gone. Now the entrance is gone, as well as most of the original windows. The zigzag below the cornice is still there, but Williams and Weil would probably not recognize the place. WINTER 2013
Mr. Weil would, though, recognize the house he built during the same year the courthouse was finished. It sits conveniently next door, a three-story, frame, many-gabled behemoth featuring leaded glass, straight grain fir trim and a wraparound porch. It spoke to Mr. and Mrs. Weil’s wealth and status in the burgeoning city and was part of a long list of homes finished in 1909, including residences for L.D. and Earl Farmin, Charles Sully and E.R. Edgerton. The Pend Oreille Review proudly proclaimed the collective cost of two-dozen-plus houses as “approximating $90,000.” Public buildings other than Community Hall that escape the “Modern American with classic tradition” style include the Panida Theater; the building formerly known by many names before becoming Sandpoint Business and Events Center; the former Federal Building that now houses First American Title; the old Northern Pacific Depot; and First Presbyterian Church. The Panida was designed by Edward Miller, a Portland, Ore., architect. The high, arched windows with wrought SANDPOINT MAGAZINE
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