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Online Heritage Inventory

Steveston Courthouse

General Information
Thumbnail photograph of Steveston Courthouse
Click to see full image
Type of Resource: Building
Common Name: Old Steveston Courthouse
Address: 12011 3rd Avenue
Neighbourhood (Planning Area Name): Steveston
Construction Date: 1927
Current Owner: Private
Designated: Yes

Statement of Significance
Description of Site
The Steveston Courthouse is a simple, rectangular, utilitarian structure with Craftsman influences such as a front gable roof and gable pediment over the entry door. Its entry directly fronts the sidewalk of Third Avenue.

 Statement of Values
The primary heritage value of the Steveston Courthouse lies in its historic use as a judicial and community facility. The building housed court sessions in the 1920s and ‘30s, housed the Red Cross during World War II, and became a meeting place and community hall after the war . It is also associated with political relationships between the new Richmond Township and the various villages within its jurisdiction.
The building is a good example of a utilitarian community structure with Craftsman style influences.

 Character Defining Elements
Key elements that define the heritage character of the site include:
· The utilitarian structure of the courthouse consisting of a simple rectangular plan, lapped wood and shingle siding, wooden sash casement windows, and an entry directly off the street
· Craftsman details such as exposed, painted rafter ends, decorative brackets supporting the eaves of the gabled entry roof, and wood cladding
· The location of the two front doors in the right and left hand walls of the recessed entry
· Its symbolic importance as a courthouse and community hall serving the residents of Steveston.

 History
The Steveston Courthouse is a simple, rectangular, utilitarian structure with Craftsman influences such as a front gable roof and gable pediment over the entry door. Its entry directly fronts the sidewalk of Third Avenue.

 Architectural Significance
Architectural Style
Institutional with Craftsman influences

 Building Type
Government

 Design Features
The Old Steveston Courthouse building is a simple rectangular structure with a concrete foundation. It has a front gable roof with wooden shingles. Cladding consists of lapped wood below and shingle siding above. Colours are grey with white and red trim. The pediment roof over the entry is reminiscent of the imposing entries of courthouses designed in the Classical Revival style. Windows are multi-paned wooden sash casements; two at the front on either side of the door, and four along each side. Craftsman detailing on the building includes exposed, painted rafter ends, decorative brackets supporting the eaves of the pediment, and wood cladding. An interesting feature is the location of the two front doors in the right and left hand walls of the recesed entry .

 Construction Method
Wood frame construction.

 Landscape Significance
Landscape Element
The current documentation indicates that there are no landscape elements of any significance associated with this site. It appears that any landscape elements (fence, planting, site furnishings) have been added as part of or since the 1987 rehabilitation.

 Integrity
Alterations
There are few apparent major alterations to the actual building which has maintained its integrity in massing, materials and detailing. Alterations to the building as part of its rehabilitation to accommodate a present day law office appear generally to have been consmetic, such as the addition of window trim and fascia. The major compromises have been through changes to the building's context through the addition of features such as fencing and paving, and through moving the building from its original location.

 Original Location
No. From earlier documents, it appears that the building has been moved around on the original
site. It's original setting is therefore compromised.

 Condition
The existing building is well maintained and is in very good condition.

 Lost
No

 Documentation
Evaluated By
Denise Cook BLA, PBD (Public History)

 Date
Monday, September 4, 2000

 Documentation
"Heritage Inventory Phase II" by Foundation Group Designs, May 1989.
Inventory sheets by Diana Bodner (Foundation Group) January 1989.
"History of Steveston Community Building (Old Court House" by Elizabeth Eso (no
date).
Press Release: "Old Steveston Courthouse Given a Heritage Plaque by A.
Jamieson (no date).

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