Garrett County Courthouse
The domed building on the hill to your right is the Garrett County Courthouse. Built in 1907 in a classical Greek style and designed by Architect J. Riley Gordon, this is the second building in Oakland to be called the Garrett County Courthouse. The first was built in 1877 one block away at the corner of Fourth and Green Streets. For the first five years after Garrett became a county in 1872, a court was held at the Glades Hotel.
The Garrett County Commissioners purchased the present site after the first courthouse became overcrowded. The purchase also included land for the Sheriff’s office and jail directly behind this building on Fourth Street.
A long series of steps used to lead from Third Street to the front entrance of the courthouse. At the bottom of those steps was a semi-circular plaza where certain Oakland and Garrett County outdoor activities were held. During the 1920’s a large cannon was placed on the lawn north of the steps but was removed during the “scrap drive” of World War II.
Later on the spot where the cannon sat, a large papier-mâché “birthday cake” was constructed to celebrate Oakland’s 100th anniversary in August 1949.
Architect Gordon included in his plans a rotunda for the center of the courthouse. Three stories high, the rotunda has been the site of many small, indoor patriotic programs throughout the years. A large eagle with outstretched wings sits on top of the dome that covers the rotunda.
During the years between 1977 and 1979, the courthouse was enlarged to accommodate a new jail and Sheriff’s office building in an attached building facing Third Street. A new County office building was attached to the rear of the courthouse, extending into the area of Fourth Street where the jail and Sheriff’s office once stood. The stone columns and arches of the 1907 courthouse remain in the center section of the enlarged building.
Marker is at the intersection of South 1st Street and Alley 3 at the Town Parking Lot on South 1st Street.
Courtesy hmdb.org
