In the Brig… But Just for a Bit
The old territorial courthouse on Bancroft and E St. can boast a colorful history. At 152-years-old, the oldest brick building in Washington has been receiving a facelift and a new spine. The renovation is an attempt to keep the building structurally sound, while maintaining the atmosphere of the old courthouse. Due to financial pressures, the renovation is a bit behind schedule, but it is slowly coming along.
Bricks and Steel
As part of the retrofit, the courthouse is receiving a new roof and structural modifications that make it resistant to seismic activity. Rick Tremaine, chairman of the restoration committee for the Whatcom County Historical Society, said they are fixing the innards of the structure with steel reinforcement.
The old bricks that compose the courthouse were shipped in from California when the building was erected in 1858. They are being removed, cleaned and re-mortared back into the walls like they were when they first went in. The building will also be receiving replicas of the original windows, Tremaine said.
Waiting
Edradine Hovde, member of the Daughters of Pioneers of Washington and one of the tour guides at the Pickett site, expressed concern over the progress of the courthouse. The place has been in a sort of financial limbo, waiting for money. “It’s all about getting enough donations,” Hovde said. The project is run entirely by donations and they have not been steadily supplied with adequate funds. This makes continuous progress difficult.
The courthouse renovations began in 2004 and are still going on. The restoration committee for the Whatcom County Historical Society was shooting for completion by the 150th anniversary date of the courthouse. That was two years ago. Tremaine said the project should be finished sometime into next year, but that is “still kind of iffy.” The Historical Society hopes to have an occupancy permit by next fall, Tremaine said. He agreed with Hovde, saying, “Money is the biggest holdup.”
Two years ago, The Bellingham Herald quoted Tremaine who said, “Restoration is expected to cost $400,000 in cash and donated labor and materials.” Now he says it’s probably closer to $500,000.
Lets Meet at the Jail
Wes Gannaway, Co-author of “Bellingham Then and Now,” and member of the Historical Society, said the building will be designed according to the old plans. After they get the occupancy permit, the Historical Society will start having meetings in the courthouse. It will look just like it did in the days of Dirty Dan Harris, founder of Fairhaven.
Gannaway described how the courthouse used to be a trading post and a jail. “Usually it just held drunks,” he said, “but one night Bill Jarman killed a man in a bar fight and spent [three weeks] in the there.” If you are not familiar with Bill Jarman, he was one of the big local characters in the 1800s and early 1900s. In his book, “The Fourth Corner,” Lelah Jackson Edson describes Jarman’s escapades.
Blanket Bill
Jarman was captured by the Nootka Indians and kept as a slave for two years until Victoria Gov. James Douglas came and ransomed him with blankets. After that, everyone knew him as Blanket Bill.
Jarman, or Blanket Bill, once stole a canoe and rowed from Victoria to Port Townsend at night. Another time, he deserted a ship on Tasmania and he walked 122-miles, barefoot, to the town of Lanceton to escape his duties on the vessel. And in 1872, while working as a bartender at a Sehome Saloon, he shot a man named James Farmer for insulting his sister.
After the incident, Jarman turned himself-in to Sherriff Cootes at the County Courthouse. He was kept in solitary confinement for three weeks in that little brick building that still stands on Bancroft St.
Subject to the momentary economic pressures, the renovation process is taking longer than expected. But a place with such a rich history cannot be forgotten too long. Thanks to donations and private efforts, we will soon be able to walk through the little brick brig that holds pieces of our local history.
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