The New Court House which is nearing completion will long stand as a fitting memorial of the public spirit in which it was conceived, and the integrity of purpose and proper economy with which its construction has been pursued. After a pains-taking deliberation the board of County Commissioners decided to accept the plan submitted by E. P. Bassford, Esq., of St. Paul, a gentleman whose standing as an architect in the Northwest is unquestioned by his professional brethren, and the contract which A. A. Whittamore [Whittemore] Esq., late of Montevideo, was willing to make with the county for the proper carrying out of this plan according to the letter and the spirit of the specifications. That he has succeeded, in a manner upon which the tax-payers of the county are to be congratulated, no one who will take the trouble to examine for himself, will deny. Standing as it does on the commanding eminence of the town, the imposing structure has already become an important feature of the landscape, and from its breezy tower the eye wanders rapturously over a country alive with evidences of its prosperity. The structure is of [
Morris]
brick, of good quality – none the less acceptable to our local pride, from having been manufactured within hearing almost of the site – resting on a foundation wall of an average thickness of more than four feet. Besides the wall for support there are nine brick piers thirteen inches by seventeen, each, with corbel or horizontal projecting timber which assists in supporting the auxiliary sills, which, together with the pier-like vaults, aid materially in the safe and uniform distribution of pressure. The main building is sixty feet by sixty, to which the building to be use for a jail and sheriff’s quarters is attached in the rear, covering forty feet square of ground. Upon entering the main door-way to the left we find the stairway leading to the court-room above, then, in order on the same side of the building, the offices to be occupied by the Auditor, Clerk of Court and Sheriff respectively. On the right, in order, are the offices of the Treasurer, Register of Deeds and Judge of Probate. All are commodious, well lighted, ventilated, and furnished with strong vaults for the safe keeping of the county records. The annex is furnished with two chrome steel cells of the Pauly & Son pattern, with corridor, a cell for the confinement of those deranged, besides ample accommodations for the Sheriff and his family. A large cistern in the rear, to which the water is conducted from the roof in four inch galvanized pipe, which, when it reaches the ground is laid in cement, will afford a copious water supply. Upon ascending to the court-room we find it to be a large and well-lighted room, fifty feet by sixty, with an inclined floor over one half its length, and at the extremity of the other half rises a graceful arch which defines the precinct where the blind goddess will abide. Retiring rooms for the judges, lawyers and jury, besides a convenient mode of egress in case of necessity complete the arrangements of this floor of the main building. The roof which should cover a building of such proportions as this must needs be well supported, and for this purpose several trusses, of the straining-beam variety, each of sixty feet span, are used, upon which two similar trusses, but of smaller dimensions, rest, and upon which the tower is sustained, nearly one hundred feet above the foundations. The chords, or tie-beams of the main trusses are twelve inches square, with braces in proportion and tie rods of one and one quarter inch iron thoroughly held by nuts and cast iron washers. The posts of the tower are thoroughly locked by bolts to the two small trusses referred to above; these by the same means, to the main trusses on which they are supported, and the tie-beams of the latter to the wall, forming a rigid framework over which the integument – as we shall, call it – of the roof is drawn. In every particular, from cellar to peak of tower, there is no evidence of slighting of any portion of this work, and the citizens of Stevens county may feel assured that when the contractor hands over to them the Court House it will be in every particular in keeping with the specifications of his contract. For this, honor is due the officers and commissioners of the county who have been very zealous in their efforts, and conscientious in their direction of expenditures. (
The Sun, Morris, Minnesota, Thursday, November 22, 1883, Page 4)
The building committee met on Friday and entered into contract with Good & Brisbine to furnish two of the largest sized Carton furnaces, for the new Court house; also, for four hundred chairs for the court room. (The Sun, Morris, Minnesota, Thursday, December 6, 1883, Page 3)
A visit to the county offices in the new court house, just taken possession of by our worthy county officials will enable you to observe some peculiar and, indeed, some unlooked for characteristics… (The Sun, Morris, Minnesota, Thursday, March 27, 1884, Page 4)
