Major County Courthouse
Introduction
Text-to-speech Audio
Major County Courthouse is a historic courthouse built in 1928. It was designed by the Oklahoma City architectural firm Tonini & Bramblet, which also was responsible for the design of a number of other courthouses in Oklahoma and Kansas. Like other Tonini & Bramblet courthouses, Major County Courthouse is notable for its simplified Neoclassical features such as Tuscan columns and Tuscan pilasters. Major County Courthouse is one of 51 county courthouses in Oklahoma listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Images
Major County Courthouse. Image from Google Maps.
Backstory and Context
Text-to-speech Audio
Major County Courthouse, located in Fairview, Oklahoma, serves as the county seat for Major County. Fairview was designated as the seat of Major County in 1907, around a decade after the opening of land to settlement on September 16, 1892. Following an election, Fairview became the permanent county seat on September 7, 1909.
The current stone structure replaces a two-story brick structure built in 1908-9. Designed by the Oklahoma City architectural firm Tonini & Bramblet, known for their work on courthouses throughout Oklahoma, the new courthouse was built in 1928 at a cost of $77,495.
Like other courthouses designed by Tonini & Bramblet, the courthouse is notable for its incorporation of simplified Neoclassical elements such as Tuscan columns and pilasters. Another outstanding feature is the main entranceway, centered and recessed in a Roman arch. The attic of the building was designed to house the county jail.
The current stone structure replaces a two-story brick structure built in 1908-9. Designed by the Oklahoma City architectural firm Tonini & Bramblet, known for their work on courthouses throughout Oklahoma, the new courthouse was built in 1928 at a cost of $77,495.
Like other courthouses designed by Tonini & Bramblet, the courthouse is notable for its incorporation of simplified Neoclassical elements such as Tuscan columns and pilasters. Another outstanding feature is the main entranceway, centered and recessed in a Roman arch. The attic of the building was designed to house the county jail.
Sources
Haynes, Susanne and Mary Ann Anders. "County Courthouses of Oklahoma." National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. National Park Service. US Department of the Interior. https://npgallery.nps.gov/pdfhost/docs/NRHP/Text/64000668.pdf. Accessed March 19, 2019.
"Major County Courthouse." National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. National Park Service. US
Department of the Interior. https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/NRHP/84003153_text. Accessed March 19, 2019.
Wilson, Linda D. "Fairview." The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=FA007. Accessed March 19, 2019.
"Major County Courthouse." National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. National Park Service. US
Department of the Interior. https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/NRHP/84003153_text. Accessed March 19, 2019.
Wilson, Linda D. "Fairview." The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=FA007. Accessed March 19, 2019.