Courthouse Gets a Party to Do it Justice

It’s going to be a long party.

On Wednesday, the county kicked off a 17-month centennial celebration of the old county courthouse. The party, which starts in time for the 100th anniversary of the groundbreaking, will wrap in November 2001, the anniversary of the official dedication.

Wednesday’s festivities included a ceremony in the historic courtroom and a luncheon. Other events will be scheduled. As a present for its big birthday, the Santa Ana courthouse will get to glow in the dark: Exterior lighting will be installed soon. Other improvements include roof repairs and a refurbished exhibit gallery in the basement. The courthouse will also have a history book written about it.

“It’s something like the birthday of an old friend,” said Rob Richardson, director of the county’s Public Affairs Office.

Over the years, the stalwart building has found its way into many lives. Hundreds of thousands have been married there, landmark verdicts have been delivered from its benches and countless immigrants became U.S. citizens within its walls. It has also found its way onto the silver screen, with cameo appearances in “The American President” (1995), “North” (1993) and “Gideon’s Trumpet” (1980).

It’s the oldest courthouse in Southern California and was the tallest building in Orange County when it was completed in 1901. It still looks almost exactly as it did then, right down to the chairs in the jury box.

The courthouse once held all Orange County government offices but was closed in 1979 because it didn’t meet earthquake codes. After an extensive restoration, it reopened in 1987 and houses historical commission offices, museum space and the wedding license office.

In a speech, Chuck Smith, chairman of the Board of Supervisors, said, “You can’t help feeling a sense of awe walking through this building.”