Kings County Vignettes
The Old Kings County Courthouse
The Old Kings County Courthouse, now a museum and home of the Kings Historical Society, was the subject of an article in the local paper in 1904 when it was opened. The description of the interior and names of prominent citizens of the county at that time are interesting.
The new Court House at Kentville is now practically completed and nearly all the fittings are in place. Most of the offices are now occupied by the County officials.
The above cut will give our readers an idea of the look of the building as it now stands in a prominent position on Cornwallis St.
The question of the erection of a new Court House has been before the Municipal Council for some time. No definite steps were taken until the present Council was elected when it was decided that the erection should be proceeded with as soon as possible and a building committee was appointed.
The building committee was composed of the following: Albert E. McMahon, chairman of the committee, is a farmer residing in Aylesford. He also has been prominent in various other business enterprises. He is serving his first term in the council and has been one of its most active members. He represents Ward 12.
W. C. Hamilton is a leading farmer and speculator of Grand Pré. He is one of the busiest men in the county, but always finds time to look after the public business which has fallen to him as Councilor for Ward 9.
J. E. Kinsman is another farmer with a valuable property at Centreville. He is very popular in Ward 3 which he represents and is a man of careful judgment.
C. A. Campbell is a merchant at Port Williams, being business head of the large firm of Chase, Campbell & Co. Mr. Campbell has proved an excellent and careful Councilor and now holds the position of Deputy Warden.
A. N. Griffin is a prominent farmer, fruit grower and breeder of pure bred stock, residing in New Minas. Mr. Griffin has a deep interest in the county and its leading industry of agriculture and is a member of all organizations for the advancements of the farming interests. This committee had no easy task in the work of selecting the most suitable site, and in getting plans for and arranging the whole work which they undertook. It has been carried out with dispatch and in a manner which seems to have given satisfaction to the county and also to the town of Kentville where the building is located.
The structure is built of the best selected Kings County hard brick with pressed brick for the outside. These bricks were supplied by the brickyard at Avonport conducted by Mr. Jacob Walton. The stone work is of Cumberland freestone.
The main entrance is marked by a semicircular arch of molded pressed brick with the title "9Court House" in neat block lettering. The basement steps are of massive solid rock face stone. The roof is built of Spanish tile. The whole cost of the building and fittings is about $ 20,000.00.
The ground floor contains these county offices: Probate, Prothonotory, Treasurer, Registrar of Deeds, County Clerk and Sheriff. They are all along the main corridor running lengthwise of the building. As well as the main entrance there is an outside door in the north end. Fireproof safety vaults have been provided in the above offices for the County records and papers and are said to be the best in the province. The fittings of these offices are of the best quality of tables, desks, chairs and cases.
The main entrance leads into a large vestibule and from here the handsome American quartered oak stairway leads up to the first floor. This floor will be used as jury rooms, judge's waiting room and toilet, attorney's and witnesses' rooms and the court room.
The latter room is finished in mahogany with walls tinted and finished rough, down to the dado paneling which runs around the room 4 1/2 feet high. The floors in nearly all the rooms are of oak and birch. All the interior finish of the building is of the best hardwood.
A large toilet room is on the ground floor and two upstairs. The best sanitary plumbing is used throughout the building and the most careful attention has been given to ventilation and acoustics.
The whole building is warmed by an excellent system of hot water heating. This heating is so planned that the ground floor and first story can be entirely disconnected thus avoiding the necessity and expense of warming the whole building when not needed. The electric wiring and fixtures are of the latest pattern and were selected of special designs for the different rooms lighted.
The whole work of construction has been subject to the closest inspection and has been well and truly executed. The plans were made by architect Mr. L. R. Fairn, and he personally supervised the whole construction and fitting. The building does much credit to his planning and workmanship. He found in the members of the building committee those who were ever ready to agree to anything that would add to the comfort and efficiency of the building.
The Court House is a great addition to the structures in the town of Kentville and the citizens may now feel that their county records are in safe keeping.