Old Missoula

Courthouse Is Started in 1908; Final Acceptance Comes in 1910

The cornerstone and foundation of the Missoula County Courthouse were laid in the fall of 1908 after residents of the county in 1906 demanded construction of a new building to replace the old courthouse completed on the same site in 1871.

The old building was used during its nearly 40 years of existence as an opera house, church, auditorium and community center in addition to its use for county governmental affairs.

The election of June 1, 1907, called for a bond issue of $175,000 for construction of a new courthouse, and the voters approved it. A. J. Gibson’s plans were accepted and the contract was let to the Williams and Oliver Co. of Spokane. The work on the building was delayed numerous times due mostly to rejection of faulty materials received. The terra cotta outfacing of the building was made at Clayton, 35 miles north of Spokane. The only wood used in the building was in the door and window casings.

Accepted July 19, 1910

The county commissioners formally accepted and approved the building on July 19, 1910. They were D. T. Curran, Frank Nelson and Tyler Worden. Furnishing of all offices was completed in the fall and county officials moved into their new offices. It was in the fall of that year that Frank Borg, local jeweler, installed the huge clock and bell in the tower. The bell weighs more than two tons and a scaffolding had to be constructed with which to lift it by block and tackle to the tower.

The old courthouse was moved to the Broadway side of the block while the new courthouse was being constructed. After the new building was completed, a wing of the old building was purchased by a woman who made it into a rooming house somewhere in the area. The rest of the building was torn down.