LAKEPORT, Calif. – The building that formerly served as Lake County's courthouse sits at 255 N Main St. in Lakeport, just across the street from the building that today serves that function.
Now the Historic Courthouse Museum, the former courthouse building is California Historical Landmark No. 897.
The historical marker plaque reads, “This brick courthouse, constructed by A. P. Pettit in 1870-71, was one of the few buildings in the vicinity to survive the 1906 earthquake with only minor damage. It served Lake County as a seat of government from 1871 until 1968. Precedent-setting trials on water rights were held here, along with the 'White Cap' murder trial in 1890.”
The county’s first courthouse, at Lakeport burned in 1867, six years after the county of Lake was formed by an act of the Legislature.
Then, all of the records of Lake County were destroyed, with the exception of one of the treasurer’s books, as he had taken it home with him.
The cause of the devastating fire was believed to have been an act of arson. The reasons for this suspicion stem from the debate over the selection of a county seat, but no one could prove this.
Voters had a sizable decision to make with regard to the town that named the county seat. The vote was between Lakeport and Lower Lake.
In 1869 Lower Lake was voted in as county seat, but the election was contested on the grounds that “fraud was practiced at Lower Lake.”
Through an act of the Legislature another vote was held, with the results as follows: Lakeport, 479 and Lower Lake, 404 votes.
With that decision settled, a courthouse and jail could be constructed, so in 1871 the brick structure was begun.
The Board of Supervisors was to issue bonds for the construction of the court house “in the amount of $20,000 in denominations of $250 each, to bear interest at the rate of twelve per cent per annum.”
The plans specified that the building should “be sixty-six feet long and forty-four feet wide, two stories high, be built of brick, and have a tin roof. It fronts the lake (east) and is located in center of a handsome plaza comprising a whole block.”
The contract went to A.P. Pettit for $17,000.
Today, as a museum, the building houses stunning and unique historical artifacts of many kinds.
Visit the museum to view breathtaking examples of exquisite Pomo Indian basketry, stone tools, collections of beautiful Lake County diamonds and even a mammoth molar which was found on Cobb Mountain.
At the museum you can step back in time as you study the professional dioramas and displays.
Visit the museum to learn more about Lake County’s colorful history.
Kathleen Scavone, M.A., is an educator, potter, writer and author of “Anderson Marsh State Historic Park: A Walking History, Prehistory, Flora, and Fauna Tour of a California State Park” and “Native Americans of Lake County.” She also writes for NASA and JPL as one of their “Solar System Ambassadors.” She was selected “Lake County Teacher of the Year, 1998-99” by the Lake County Office of Education, and chosen as one of 10 state finalists the same year by the California Department of Education.