By Harrison Power
Facing I Street between 11th and 12th Streets stands the former Stanislaus County Hall of Records, a longtime focal point of downtown located on the grounds of the Courthouse. Though it can appear to be an extension of the 1960 Courthouse complex, it actually predates the current courthouse by many years and marked significant investment in the Modesto area toward the end of the Great Depression. As progress on construction of the new Stanislaus Superior Courthouse continues, the community and civic leaders have a chance to re-commit to this significant local building with planning for long-term downtown redevelopment underway.
Completed in 1939, the Stanislaus County Hall of Records was celebrated by the Modesto Bee as an “ultra modern structure built for roominess and efficiency.” Completion was only made possible due to federal New Deal funds granted to the County, with federal dollars accounting for roughly one third of total construction costs. Built next to the original Victorian-era courthouse, it expanded record storage capacity and consolidated county administrative offices. When it opened to the public, the Hall of Records was home to the offices of the Board of Supervisors, Clerk, Recorder, Assessor, Auditor, Treasurer/Tax Collector, Superintendent of Schools, District Attorney, Surveyor, and Purchasing Agent.
The Hall of Records was designed by Russell Guerne DeLappe (1897-1955), son of a well-established Modesto doctor who graduated from UC Berkeley and went on to become a prominent architect of civic and administrative buildings throughout California. The Hall of Records is one of only a few remaining sites in Modesto designed by DeLappe, and it has come to be lauded as the first International Style county building in the entire State. DeLappe’s intent with the design was to maximize utility over ornamentation, which is line with modernist architectural design and accounts for the rather imposingly modest façade.
The Hall of Records is a physical connection to Modesto’s earlier years and is an architectural jewel that adds immense value to the story of our City and County. Designed by a Modesto native, this structure deserves a new lease on life as court operations eventually consolidate and move to their new 10th treet home. With the completion of the new Stanislaus Superior Courthouse expected in the next two years, the opportunity for Modesto to preserve and repurpose this historic property in the heart of Downtown must be seriously considered as we aim to create a vibrant Downtown where Modesto’s heritage meets future needs. To learn further about the Hall of Records, you can visit the Modesto Art Museum’s website to read more!
