BOOK REVIEW
By GWEN HAGAMAN
Special to the Times
No other building in Merced carries the same monumental feeling as its Italian Renaissance Revival style Courthouse built in 1875. Upon its 150th Anniversary in 2025, telling its story through the eyes of local people was important to the Merced County Historical Society, which operates the Courthouse Museum inside its walls. The Museum staff collected stories and memories to include in “Old Courthouse: 150 Years, 150 Stories,” a book sharing the many ways the Old Courthouse has been part of life in Merced.
It was my honor to design the cover in collaboration with Museum Director Sarah Lim. She was the photographer for the cover photo, choosing the recently renovated cupola as the star of the story. There are 195 pages inside covering everything from initial construction to legal cases, events at the long-gone bandstand, installation of military monuments, the jobs that were done in the building, and personal recollections of memorable moments. More than 100 photos were included in the book.
Reading this book is a personal experience. It’s common for readers to see a picture that includes them — surprise! — or to find a story told by one of their friends or family members. I personally enjoyed reading about “Ben Bear,” who is dressed for exhibits by my friend Timmie Bressler. And the story about Russell Smith and Serg George picking up the “Merced Mall” neon sign, which sits on display in the Ground Floor hallway of the Courthouse Museum.
This collection includes funny situations, such as a very young Marc Medefind getting snatched up and into a moving car as he bolted in an effort to get to Courthouse Park. There are serious events recalled, such as Dr. Chai Charles Moua witnessing the inauguration of Congressman Adam Gray in the historic Courtroom. You may read about Tea Parties, Christmas Bell Choirs, an invasive drone crash, and stories from people who worked in this building.
Chapter One follows the building from idea to completion — with construction updates through the years and the activity that happened in and around the building. For example, did you know that $10,000 in gold was stolen from the County Treasury in 1900? Or that a stubborn doctor refused to give witness testimony without getting paid? Or that the entire Courthouse Park was targeted for demolition and was saved by local citizens? All of these details are in this book.
Important legal benchmarks happened right here in Merced County Courthouse. Chapter Two focuses on the legal history that took place in the building. Several murder trials were held, involving some very violent people. One became something of a “Robin Hood” image, seen as a rebel against social norms. Heaine Haislip (aka Francisco Lopez) turned himself in, claiming self-defense in the killing of a man using a knife on the railroad tracks. He attempted to sell his life story in a book deal. Was he found innocent?
A Merced waitress named Gladys Escola sued the Coca-Cola Bottling Co. for a personal injury claim due to a defective glass bottle shattering in her hands. This case set an important precedent in product liability and became part of the training for first-year law students.
In 1948 Merced Superior Court seated the nation’s first all-black jury. How did that turn out? Check out page 74.
The book began with information and photographs submitted for a museum exhibition of the same name to celebrate the building’s anniversary. Enhanced storytelling and additional pictures round out the presentation of the “Old Courthouse” history in the book. The exhibition is still on display and will continue through Feb. 15.
The first edition of the book, “Old Courthouse: 150 Years, 150 Stories,” is available at the Museum Gift Shop for $24. The Courthouse Museum (inside Courthouse Park) is open from 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday and is always admission free.
Gwen Hagaman is a staffmember at the Merced County Courthouse Museum.
