Benewah County Courthouse
St. Maries, Benewah County
- Grant: 2007 (technical assistance)
Location: Corner of College Avenue and Seventh Street, St. Maries, Idaho 83861
The Benewah County Courthouse is a detached three-story Classical Revival building and is one of the most architecturally intact courthouses extant in Idaho. Benewah County was established in 1915 by an act of the Idaho Legislature. A campaign to establish a courthouse in St. Maries began in 1923, with a local newspaper erroneously claiming that Benewah County was the only county in Idaho currently operating without either a jail or courthouse. Despite the misinformation, the movement gained broad public support, the county had ample funding, and the project proceeded with little subsequent drama.
Julius Zittel, a Spokane architect drew plans for the courthouse, and Meyers and Telender of Spokane were awarded the contract with a bid of $87,990. Work was completed in November of 1924, and the building still serves as Benewah County’s Courthouse nearly one hundred years later. The building is largely constructed of red brick with an ivory-colored, pressed-brick veneer along with terracotta flourishes on the two street-facing exterior walls. The interior remains largely intact, featuring the original wood floors, wainscotting, and floor plan. The Benewah County Courthouse is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
