FARMINGTON—A portion of the Memorial Courthouse came down last week as part of a plan to redesign the campus surrounding the county administration building and Headquarters Library.

“For the next few weeks, they’ll be bringing it down,” said Commissioner Randy Elliott. “We’re going to retrofit and keep the historical part from the 1920s. The restoration should be complete by 2022.”

Elliott said the original section will be restored to its 1920s grandeur. “There’s a stained glass window that is a nice little feature for Davis County so we’ll restore that.”

Davis County Commissioners first announced the plan to enlarge the county courthouse back in 1929. The expansion was built around the 1890s red brick courthouse, creating a courthouse within a courthouse, according to material provided by the county. The project was completed in 1932.

Additions were added in 1957-1958 and again in 1979. Another renovation took place in 1997 that removed the false ceiling installed during the 1929–1932 construction bringing it back to the original ornate ceiling. 

The plans also call for a walkway and garden area. “That will create a peaceful area between the two buildings,” he said. “There’s a water feature in the front of the courthouse that will be moved to the back as well as monuments for public viewing.”

Pretrial services and indigent defense will be housed there. “There will also be room for future growth,” said Elliott. “We’ll also give the American Legion a bit of space on the second floor. They’ve always had a location there, originally in the basement. We’ll give them a little area as we move forward.”

Elliott said the commissioners in 2016 – 2017 received public approval for a tax increase to restore the building. Recently, the county was able to refund the bond on the Administration Building and combine it with the courthouse project for a net savings of $2.6 million. “This will enhance Farmington’s downtown and the campus for Davis County.”