Patterson Law Office

United States historic place


Patterson Law Office
U.S. National Register of Historic Places

View from the southwest.
41°6′51″N 97°59′57″W / 41.11417°N 97.99917°W / 41.11417; -97.99917
Built	1872
Architect	NA
Architectural style	False-Front Building, Vernacular Greek Revival
NRHP reference No.	79001451^[1]
Added to NRHP	March 13, 1979^[2]

The Patterson Law Office is located in Central City, Nebraska. It is a false-front building of frame construction built in 1872. It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places;^[2]^[3] its historical significance derives from its age, its architectural design, and its association with John Patterson and with author-photographer Wright Morris.

History and description

The Patterson Law Office was built in the same year as John Patterson, a native of Ireland, came to Lone Tree (now Central City), Nebraska. Patterson built a law practice in Merrick County housed in this building. He was a well-known trial lawyer and county attorney, played an important role in the development of Central City and Merrick County, and served as county superintendent of schools.^[3]^[4]

The law office is a one-story, false-fronted building with gable roof. It rests on a stone foundation and exhibits Greek Revival elements in the door, window, pilaster and cornice detailing. It has two rooms lined with wainscot paneling.^[3]

The building is historically significant for several reasons. It is one of the earliest known false-frame commercial buildings in Nebraska predating the majority of 19th century commercial buildings in Nebraska by nearly 20 years. It is associated with a significant figure, John Patterson, in the development of Central City and Merrick County.^[3]^[4] It also has relationships to Wright Morris appearing in his literary works.^[5]

References

^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
^ ^a ^b "Nebraska National Register Sites in Merrick County".^[usurped] Nebraska State Historical Society.^[usurped] Retrieved 2012-12-30.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Nebraska National Register Sites: Patterson Law Office Registration Form" (PDF). Archived from the original on June 10, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^ ^a ^b Kay, John, Lonnie Dickson, Robert Kay, and Kathleen Fimple (1992). "Nebraska Historic Buildings Survey Reconnaissance Survey Final Report of Merrick County, Nebraska" (PDF). Nebraska State Historical Society: State Historic Preservation Office. Archived from the original on November 16, 2006.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^ "The Patterson Law Office".