Sesquicentennial Court House Site
Voters on July 17, 1854, selected Jackson as the county seat of the new County of Amador, born that June 14 after a spirited election. Fulfilling their promise, the Jackson town trustees, at no county expense, financed construction of the first court house at this site. By year’s end, a 2-story wooden court house stood here. You see its sketch nearby.
In the “great fire” of August, 1862, the first court house and much of Jackson were destroyed. County Judge Marion Gordon urged supervisors to rebuild. By January, 1864, the county had a new, 2-story brick court house standing here.
In 1893 the county out-grew the court house, and erected a matching, 2-story brick hall of records next to it. A catwalk connected the two. Jail prisoners exercised in intervening ground. When more room was needed, the county filled in the space between the two buildings.
By the 1930s, the two buildings had become one. But supervisors decided the 19th century style needed modernizing. By 1940 the art deco façade you see was the result. Thus, a 1940 skin covers a 1864 court house, 1893 hall of records, and 20th century fill-in. No more unique court house exists.
Since the beginning of the county in 1854 its citizens have sought justice and upheld law in its court houses here. We, therefore, in Amador County’s Sesquicentennial year, rededicate this site and pray this historic court house be preserved and be used by its people.
Dedicated in Amador County’s Sesquicentennial Year on June 5, 2004
Barney Noël, Grand President
Native Sons of the Golden West
Amador Parlor #17
Excelsior Parlor #31
Ione Parlor #33
In cooperation with the
Amador County Sesquicentennial Committee
Marker can be reached from Summit Street near Court Street, on the right when traveling north.
Courtesy hmdb.org
