The Jackson Courthouse is seen on Jackson Highway north of Toledo in March 2013.
On Friday, the Governor’s Advisory Council will consider updating the historical designation of the John R. and Matilda Jackson House, also known as the Jackson Courthouse.
According to Michael Houser, the Washington state architectural historian, the building has been listed on the national register of historic places since 1974, but the building is up for a fresh review in order to create a more detailed documentation of its history.
“It’s been listed on the national register for a long time, since 1974 actually. This is a rewrite of that told designation, trying to bring it up to today’s standards,” explained Houser.
The Jackson Courthouse was built in 1845 and is the oldest courthouse still standing in Washington. It was built by John R. Jackson, the first landowner west of the Cascades and north of the Columbia River. The building was first constructed as a home, where John R. Jackson lived with his wife, Matilda. The first court case north of the Columbia River was heard there on Dec. 12, 1850.
The house was also a post office and a convenient supply station for military troops as they traveled between Fort Vancouver and Fort Steilacoom on the old Military Road. Today the section of highway that stretches from Toledo to Chehalis and past the historic house (near Mary’s Corner and Highway 12) is known as Jackson Highway. John R. Jackson lived in the house until his death at the age of 73 in 1873 and his family continued living in the home for nine years after his death.
In 1915, the building’s care was taken over by the Washington State Parks and Recreation commissioner. That same year the St. Helens Club of Chehalis financed a complete restoration project on the house. It was refurbished again in 1995 but has since fallen into disrepair in many areas. The house is open to the public on a limited basis.
Like the house’s upkeep, Houser says the historical documents associated with the building are due for an upgrade.
“If you looked at the old nomination from the ’70s the history is only one page,” said Houser, who noted that the new document contains 10 pages of historical information. “That was pretty typical for the era. This talks about things that they didn’t think of or didn’t consider historical.”
Houser added that having a building listed to the National Historic Register is a completely honorary designation that does not prevent the owners from working on the property, or even tearing it down if they are so inclined. However, a letter from Allyson Brooks, the state historic preservation officer, noted that, “listing in the National Register of Historic Places and/or the Washington Heritage Register does assure protective review of a property should a federal or state action have a potential adverse effect to the property’s historic values.”
The public meeting to discuss the merits of the Jackson House/Courthouse will be held at 9 a.m. Friday in the Knights of Pythias Hall at 924½ Broadway, Tacoma.
To submit a comment, pose a question or obtain a copy of the nomination, contact Michael Houser at (360) 586-3076. Additionally, in lieu of attending the meeting, a letter of support or objection may be sent to the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation at P.O. Box 48343, Olympia, WA 98504.
