Demolition
By the mid 1950s, water leaks in the roof and resultant dry rot threatened the building's structural integrity, and caused electrical problems. A fire on August 9, 1954, damaged the courthouse enough to generate county-wide discussions regarding a new building. Maintenance costs for the building were reaching new highs, and county citizens eventually approved a $1,000,000 bond for construction of the present structure in 1959. The cornerstone was set on October 5, 1963, for the existing courthouse, which was completed and occupied in 1964. The new courthouse was largely constructed around the old, and the latter was demolished to make way for the new building.
Read more about this topic: Yamhill County Courthouse