The historic John and Matilda Jackson House built in 1845 has been relisted in the Washington Heritage Register after a review.
The state’s Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation is waiting to hear if the building, also known as the Jackson Courthouse, will be relisted in the National Register of Historic Places. A nomination and request for the property to be relisted has been sent to the keeper of the National Register in Washington, D.C., stated a letter from the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation.
“Having a property listed in one or both of these registers is an honor,” Allyson Brooks, state historic preservation officer, said in a letter to The Chronicle. “The benefits of state and national register listing include potential tax credits, property tax deductions and code waivers to protect the integrity of the resource.”
Known as the oldest courthouse still standing in Washington, the building has been listed on the national register of historic places since 1974, but has been under review while a more detailed documentation of its history was put together.
The building on Jackson Highway about 500 feet south of Highway 12 outside of Chehalis, was built by John R. Jackson, the first landowner north of the Columbia River and west of the Cascades. It was originally constructed as a home where Jackson and his wife Matilda lived.
On Dec. 12, 1850, the first court case north of the Columbia River was held there. It also served as a supply station for military troops and a post office.
Jackson lived in the house until his death in 1873, and his family continued living there for nine years afterward.
The building’s care was later taken over by the Washington State Parks and Recreation commissioner in 1915.
The building had a complete restoration completed that same year, financed by the St. Helens Club of Chehalis. It was refurbished again in 1995.
