What happened when the courthouse was built

Published 12:00 am Saturday, August 24, 2002

All of the excitement and controversy over what should be done to courthouse square caused me to wonder what happened more than 100 years ago when the present, oldest, part of the courthouse was built.

I found the answers to my questions in the museum’s photo file and the book, the &uot;History of Freeborn County, 1911,&uot; and I quote:

&uot;In 1856, when the village of Albert Lea was platted, the present courthouse square was set aside for county purposes…

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&uot;The first board of county commissioners met at the home of George S. Ruble, 522 Bridge St., March 3, 1857, and in spite of several contests … the seat of county government has always remained in Albert Lea…&uot; At that time department heads held meetings in their own homes and offices, and the jail and courtrooms were in buildings on Broadway.

&uot;Toward the close of the (Civil) war, the courthouse proposition began to be seriously considered. In March 1864, a committee consisting of William Morin, Frank Hall, and Augustus Armstrong submitted plans and estimates for the construction of a fireproof building for offices and courtroom, as follows: Brick at $6, $1,320; fireproof roof, $300; laying brick and furnishing lime, $550; 8,000 feet of lumber at $20, $160; doors, nails, sash, glass, and putty, $400; carpenter work, $300; plastering and lime, $300; total $3,330. … A resolution was adopted to issue and appropriate bonds to the amount of $2,000 toward erecting fireproof buildings for the county offices, with the understanding that Albert Lea should appropriate $1,000 to add a suitable hall for court purposes…

&uot;After many delays, the building was completed, being ready for occupancy in the fall of 1866. The building was located on the corner of Broadway and College Street, the entrance being on the former street. The upper story which was used as a courtroom was completed at an expense of $1,000 by the people of Albert Lea. The main floor contained the county offices, and the jail. The stairs to the courtroom lead from the hall in the back part of the building. Within a short time it was found that the brick of the upper story was crumbling. Considerable repairing was consequently done, and the entrance was placed on the outside of the building, leading from Broadway, to a portico which was built in front of the courtroom on the second story.&uot;

&uot;In 1883, George S. Ruble attempted to regain possession of this square, but the courts held that so long as the square shall be used for county purposes, the title remains vested in the county, reverting to the heirs in case its use as a courthouse square shall be abandoned.&uot; (I wonder if this is still in effect?)

&uot;In 1887, plans were set on foot for the building of a new courthouse, and after the completion of the present beautiful edifice, the old court building was torn down. At the completion of the new structure, the Freeborn County Standard published the following article:

&uot;’The contract for the building, after considerable competition, was let March 22, 1887, to Alexander McNeill, of this city, at $55,785 and although he has made little, if any profit, he has done his work faithfully, skillfully, and well. He sublet the stone and brick work to the late Thomas F. McCormick at $35,500 and his share of the job, while under his control, was equally well done, and his sureties have in good faith completed it. He lost nearly $10,000 on his contract, and this together with exposure while engaged in the work, caused his death.

&uot;’The architect was A.C. Dunham, of Burlington, Iowa, and that his work is a conception of highest genius is evident and acknowledged by all familiar with it. The cost of the completed structure to the county, including steam heating, furniture, architect’s commission, expenses of meetings of county board, and all extras, is $67,110.68 … When it was known that McCormick’s bondsmen were to lose a considerable sum of money, a majority of the voters of the county petitioned the commissioners to reimburse them. Accordingly, D.R.P. Hibbs, representing the bondsmen, received a check for $7,000, which was used to repay the various sums which these gentlemen had expended in completing the building.’&uot;

I wonder if any of the people, who were involved in the county seat and courthouse issues all those years ago, are watching us and chuckling about our differences of opinion. I can just hear them saying, &uot;Been there. Done that.&uot;

Bev Jackson is executive director of the Freeborn County Historical Museum.