5/30/97 Alabama Historical Commission
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NPS Form 10-900 No. 1024-0018 (Rev. 10-90) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES REGISTRATION FORM 1. Name of Property historic name Washington County Courthouse other names/site number St. Stephens Masonic Lodge aesssssssesssscssssssssssssssssssssssBssssssss 2. Location «' street & number Co.Rd.34. 255' SE of junction of Co.Rd.34 & Old St.Stephens Rd. not for publication _N/A city or town St. Stephens_______________________________ vicinity N/A state Alabama code AL county Washington code 129 zip code 36569 3. State/Federal Agency Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, I hereby certify that this x nomination __ request for determination of eligibility meets the documentation standards for registering properties in the National Register of Historic Places and meets the procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60. In my opinion, the property __X_ meets __ does not meet the National Register Criteria. I recommend that this property be considered significant __ nationally __ statewide X locally. C ^7 See continuation sheet for additional comments.) 5/30/97 Signature of certifying official Date Alabama Historical Commission (State Historic Preservation Office)______ State or Federal agency and bureau In my opinion, the property __ meets __ does not meet the National Register criteria. (__ See continuation sheet for additional comments.) Signature of commenting or other official Date State or Federal agency and bureau 4. National Pa/K Service Certification hereby certify that this property is: entered in the National Register [ ] See continuation sheet. [ ] determined eligible for the National Register [ ]See continuation sheet. [ ] determined not eligible for the National Register [ j removed from the National Register [ j other (explain): __________ Signature of the Keeper Date of Action USDVNPS Registration Form Property Name Washington County Courthouse Counts/ and State Washington County. Alabama Page #2 5. Classification Ownership of Property Category of Property Number of Resources within Property (Check only one box.) (Check as many boxes as apply.) (Do not include previously feted resources in the count) Contributing Noncontributing pq private pq buflding(s) 1 Q buildings [ 1 pubHc-iocal [ ] district ___ ___sites [ j public-state IJsite ___ ___ structures [ ] public-Federal [ ] structure ___ ___ objects [] object 1 Q Total Number of related multiple property listing Number of contributing resources previously (Enter "N/A" if property is not part of a multiple property feting.) listed in the National Register N/A N/A 6. Function or Use Historic Functions (Enter categories from instructions) Cat Government___________ Sub: Courthouse Social Masonic Lodge Current Functions (Enter categories from instructions) Cat: Social______________ Sub: Masonic Lodge 7. Description Architectural Classification (Enter categories from instructions) Other, free-standing gable front _________ Materials (Enter categories from instructions) foundation concrete block_______ roof metal __________ walls wood other Narrative Description (Describe the historic and current condition on continuation sheet/s.) USDUNPS Registration Form Property Name Washington County Courthouse_____ County and State Washington County. Alabama_____ Page #3 t. Statement of Significance Applicable National Register Criteria (Mark Y in one or more boxes for the criteria qualifying the property for National Register feting) X A Property is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of our history. __ B Property is associated with the ives of persons significant in our past __ C Property embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction or represents the work of a master, or possesses high artistic values, or represents a significant and distinguishable entity whose components lack individual distinction. __ D Property has yielded, or is likely to yield information important in prehistory or history. Criteria Considerations (Mark "X" in al the boxes that apply.) __ A owned by a religious institution or used for religious purposes. __ B removed from its original location. __ C a birthplace or a grave. __ D a cemetery. __ E a reconstructed building, object, or structure. __ F a commemorative property. __ G less than 50 years of age or achieved significance within the past 50 years. Areas of Significance (Enter categories from instructions) Politics/Government______ ____________________ Social History Period of Significance 1853-1947 Significant Dates 1853______ _____1910 Significant Person (Complete if Criterion 8 is marked above) N/A Cultural Affiliation N/A Architect/Builder Wilson. Levin Jefferson, builder Narrative Statement of Significance (Explain significance of the property on one or more continuation sheets.) 9. Major Bibliographical References (Cite the books, articles, and other sources used in preparing this form on one or more continuation sheets.) Previous documentation on file (NPS) Primary location of additional data: _ preliminary determination of individual listing [X] State Historic Preservation Office (36 CFR 67) has been requested. [ I Other state agency __ previously listed in the National Register [ ] Federal agency __ previously determined eligible by the National [ J Local government Register [ j University _ designated a National Historic Landmark [ j Other X^ recorded by Historic American Buildings Survey Name of repository by Historic American Engineering Record # ______ USCH/NPS Registration Form Property Name Washington County Courthouse______ County and State Washington County. Alabama_______ Page f4 10. Geographical Data Acreage of Property _1 acre________ UTM References (Place additional UTM references on a continuation sheet) Zone Easting Northing Zone Easting Northing 1 IS 399880 3489740 3 ______ _____ 2 __ ____ ____ 4 __ ____ ____ __ See continuation sheet. Verbal Boundary Description (Describe the boundaries of the property on a continuation sheet) Boundary Justification (Explain why the boundaries were selected on a continuation sheet) 11. Form Prepared By name/title Sally Moore and Trina Binklev. Alabama Historical Commission Reviewer organization Alabama Historical Commission___________________ date February 12.1997_____ street & number 468 South Perrv Street___________________ telephone 334-242-3184_______ citv or town Montgomery_______________________ state Alabama____ zip code 36130-0900 Additional Documentation Submit the following items with the completed form: Continuation Sheets Maps A USGS map (7.5 or 15 minute series) indicating the property's location. A sketch map for historic districts and properties having large acreage or numerous resources. Photographs Representative black and white photographs of the property. Additional items (Check with the SHPO or FPO for any additional items) Property Owner (Complete this Item at the request of the SHPO or FPO.) name St. Stephens Masonic Lodge street & number __________________________._____ telephone city or town St. Stephens___________________ state Alabama zip code 36569 NPS Form 10-900-a OMB No. 1024-0018 (8-86) United States Department of the Interior National Par* Service NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES CONTINUATION SHEET Section 7 Page _1_ Washington County Courthouse Washington County, Alabama 7. DESCRIPTION The Washington County Courthouse is a two-story, frame, free-standing gable-front building located in the rural community of St. Stephens, the seat of Washington County from 1854-1907. The building features a rectangular plan, horizontal weatherboard, a standing seam metal roof, and a full-width two-tiered recessed porch. Dating from 1853-4 and forming the nucleus of the unincorporated town, the courthouse fronts in a southwesterly direction on a one-acre lot facing County Road 34, the town's main thoroughfare, approximately 255 feet southeast of its junction with the Old St. Stephens Road. St. Stephens is located in the southwestern part of the state, in the northeastern section of Washington County at the juncture of county roads 28 and 34, and approximately 3 miles from the western bank of the Tombigbee River. The county is located within the Lower Coastal Plain region and maintains an agricultural economy primarily dependent upon the timber industry. The site features a flat, partially wooded lot, measuring roughly 128* at the street by 404* at its deepest point. The building is situated in the approximate center of the lot, allowing for a front parking area which is covered in asphalt and runs across the full width of the lot. Surrounding the building is a roughly-landscaped grass-covered lawn that is void of a curb or walkway. On the eastern side of the lawn is a large sycamore tree. Recent landscaping includes sparse foundation plantings on the main facade. A slender tree is located adjacent to the rear facade, and the rear (northeastern) portion of the lot is wooded. Centrally located on the lot, the frame building rests on a foundation of concrete blocks and wooden sills. The gable-front facade features three-bays, with a two-tiered recessed porch supported by four slender square piers. Square block-type elements crown the piers on the second floor and support a simple cornice. Narrow trim ornaments the gable end, and a Masonic emblem in the apex of the gable denotes the current and historic function of the building. Exterior