Graham County Courthouse
1916
Since Graham County's formation in 1881 the courthouse had been relocated four times. It had been housed in an adobe structure in Safford, two sites in Solomonville, and the Rig's Building on Main Street when the county seat was returned to Safford. A fifth site was offered by the D.E. Welker estate at what was then I and Tenth Streets. In December 1915, the Board of Supervisors accepted the site and approved plans submitted by Architects Lecher & Kibble of Phoenix. The cost was estimated to be $44,000.
Ludgerding and Eagan were low bidders out of a field of eleven. The contract for $40,400 was awarded on March 10, 1916. Work commenced immediately with the contractors burning 300,000 red brick. This was enough for the interior of the building and some extras to sell to the public. The exterior was medium mottled pressed brick imported from El Paso. The facility was completed in six months and dedicated with much fanfare on Labor Day, September 6, 1916.
The neo-classical building features a symmetrical facade oriented around a central pediment. Its location provides a visual terminus of Safford's principal commercial street. The two-story, flat roofed composition rest on a raised concrete basement that carries the main floor seven feet above grade. Doric columns are flanked by brick piers. The interior included vaults for several departments.
The portico is approached by a flight of steps which emphasize the recessed front entry. The south and north sides originally had center bay entries. The south was closed to provide mechanical space and the north has been modified. The west entry was modified in 1978 by demolition of an unadorned two-story ell that housed the jail. Elevator access was added in 1995. Interior renovation was completed at that time. In October 1996 the county offices moved to a new facility and the court system took over the entire space.
The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
Marker is on South 8th Avenue south of U.S. 70, on the right when traveling south.
Courtesy hmdb.org
