Click the image or use the arrows to see more photos from the Flathead County Courthouse renovation.
It’s moving month for county employees whose offices are in the renovated historic courthouse, where boxes of files line bare walls and oversized, red, leather-bound books occupy the floor of the commissioners’ chamber.
The books, which contain minutes from past commissioners’ meetings, will fill in the base layer of shelves that make up the back of the chamber, atop of which museum pieces will be housed in glass cases.
It’s a look that will capture the idea of the building’s restoration: mixing history with modern characteristics.
County administrator Mike Pence expounded on the idea while looking at the refurbished grand staircase. The solid oak structure contains both original and new pieces, though it is nearly impossible to tell the difference between them, and windows provide an unparalleled view of downtown Kalispell.
“It’s simple but amazing, the openness, the light,” Pence said.
Renovations on the courthouse – costing over $2 million – began last February and are almost complete. Small strips of blue tape point out imperfections that the contractor will fix, Pence noted, but most of the major projects are finished.
Some of the most unique features in the building are the safes on every floor, which have been converted to storage and break rooms. The heavy doors are from the original safes, and have been refinished to highlight the logo and original designs from the Victor Safe and Lock Company in Cincinnati.
Moving began with the third floor, which houses the commissioners’ chambers and offices and is underway for the human resources, finance and GIS departments on the second floor. The first floor offices, including the election and records departments, will begin moving in during the first week of December, Pence said.
The second floor of the building, built in 1903, has one of the largest public spaces, complete with a meeting table, chairs and display cases for museum pieces. On the first floor, original ironwork was painted a copper color to match nearby radiators, some of which work and others that are merely aesthetic.
The county was unsuccessful at auctioning off the annex buildings on either side of the courthouse, Pence said, and the structures will likely be demolished within two weeks if a buyer does not come forward.
On Jan. 12, the public will be invited to the building’s official open house, Pence said, which will include tours of the “spiffed up” interior throughout the afternoon.