Monterey County Courthouse Pillars
Description
In 1937, the New Deal funds, along with money from a local bond issue combined to cover the cost of constructing the building around an existing 57-year-old Victorian style courthouse.
Robert Stanton was the architect and Jo Mora did the artistic decorative elements, which include 62 sculpted heads that are located in the spandrels between the first and second story windows. The busts represent 23 people in California history including:
* Indian Man
* Indian Woman,
* Junipero Serra
* Juan Cabrillo
* John Fremont
* Pioneer Man
* Pioneer Woman.
Chester R. Phillips was the project manager for the courthouse reconstruction. It was recently listed on the National Register of Historical Places.
Monterey County Courthouse under construction around old courthouse
Photo courtesy of the Jo Mora Trust Collection and Peter Hiller, Jo Mora Trust Collection Curator© All Rights Reserved
Jo Mora with central fountain
Photo courtesy of the Jo Mora Trust Collection and Peter Hiller, Jo Mora Trust Collection Curator© All Rights Reserved
Central fountain under construction in Mora's studio
Photo courtesy of the Jo Mora Trust Collection and Peter Hiller, Jo Mora Trust Collection Curator© All Rights Reserved
Central fountain blueprint
Photo courtesy of the Jo Mora Trust Collection and Peter Hiller, Jo Mora Trust Collection Curator© All Rights Reserved
One of five different bas-relief panels
Photo courtesy of the Jo Mora Trust Collection and Peter Hiller, Jo Mora Trust Collection Curator© All Rights Reserved
Robert Stanton architect - Jo Mora sculptor
Photo courtesy of the Jo Mora Trust Collection and Peter Hiller, Jo Mora Trust Collection Curator© All Rights Reserved
Justice under construction
Photo courtesy of the Jo Mora Trust Collection and Peter Hiller, Jo Mora Trust Collection Curator© All Rights Reserved
Interior courtyard with heads
Photo courtesy of the Jo Mora Trust Collection and Peter Hiller, Jo Mora Trust Collection Curator© All Rights Reserved
Monterey County Courthouse, interior courtyard with heads
Photo courtesy of the Jo Mora Trust Collection and Peter Hiller, Jo Mora Trust Collection Curator© All Rights Reserved
-
- Monterey County Courthouse
-
- Monterey County Courthouse column detail
Source notes
Submitted by Peter Hiller
Additional information from Colleen BaileyNational Register of Historic Places Registration form, 2008: (https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/ee0db97b-d333-4105-a007-172c6e9963d6), (https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/869c7a33-1714-49b3-9df5-843427601d19/), accessed September 5, 2018.
Project originally submitted by Jo Mora Trust Collection and Peter Hiller, Jo Mora Trust Collection Curator on July 28, 2008.
We welcome contributions of additional information on any New Deal project site.
SUBMIT MORE INFORMATION OR PHOTOGRAPHS FOR THIS SITE
I have some drawings signed ” Robert Stanton Designer.” They are of a proposed home in Montery Ca.. I believe they have been in my family’s possession since the mid 1930’s. I am interested in knowing if they have any historical value as I would like to donate them. Any information would be much appreciated.
Ken Towle
These are certainly on historical value, although I would contact a local historian to confirm.