The 1899 Polk County Courthouse

It all started when…

One of the most historic and captivating features of the Polk County Museum is the building itself and this year we celebrate 124 years of its history!  As occupants of this magnificent building, the Polk County Historical Society is honored to relate some of its rich history. 

Polk County was established in March of 1853 and named for former president, James Knox Polk, who had died in 1849. During the fall election of 1853, Osceola became the county seat.  Judge Wiram Knowlton, of the eighth judicial district, held the first court at Osceola in a school-house.   A number of buildings served as the courthouse until January 1882, when the county leased a saloon built by Veit Geiger.  From 1882 to 1898 the Geiger Building was used as the Polk County Courthouse and sheriff’s and judge’s quarters, with the beer storage area in the basement converted to the county jail.

During the fall election of 1898, and with a majority vote of 387, the county seat was eventually moved to Balsam Lake, a more central location in Polk County.  One person that campaigned and was instrumental in facilitating a move to Balsam Lake was J. W. Park.  Mr. Park was chairman of the town of Balsam Lake at the time and personally donated the site for the town hall, courthouse and jail. Soon after the county election, a building committee was appointed including J. W. Park of Balsam Lake, T. H. Thompson of St. Croix Falls, and H. P. Burdick of Osceola.

The committee hired the Minneapolis architect firm of Orf & Guilbert.  Frederick Orff and Ernest F. Guilbert designed the courthouse in a Richardsonian Romanesque style named after the unique American architect Henry Hobson Richardson (1838-1886).  Richardson’s style became quite popular during the 1870s and 1880s for churches, libraries, train stations, courthouses, and schools.  This form of architecture was typically used for grand, public buildings characterized with round arches over windows or entryways, thick masonry walls, variable stone and brick façade and rounded (sometimes square) towers with conical roof. 

Fred C. Norlander of St. Paul got the general contract for $17,487 with the subsidiary contracts for heating, plumbing, sewer and lighting going separately to smaller bidders. The several contracts totaled the cost of building at $19,272.   The courthouse, sheriff’s residence and jail were completed by September 7, 1899, except for the utilities which were on separate contracts. The building committee accepted the contracts at an overall cost of about $30,000. The bonds had readily sold to the Minneapolis Trust Company for $26,000.  Commemorating the county seat move, an inscription stone ("18 POLK COUNTY 98") and ball finial of stone decorate the center of the patterned parapet above the building’s entrance.

The courthouse was remodeled in the 1960’s, but it soon became clear that this historic building could no longer meet the county’s needs.  In the summer of 1974, site preparation took place to build a new courthouse and government offices.  The new building was completed and the Polk County Courthouse was relocated to the northwest corner of Balsam Lake on December 6, 1975.

In 1976, the County invited the Historical Society to relocate their one room museum to the old courthouse building.  The museum expanded and spread out through the three floors.  Remnants of the old courthouse and its architecture still remain including the original judge’s bench and courtroom, the stain glass window depicting the cities of Polk County and holding cell for those on trial.  On March 9, 1982, this well-deserved building was listed on The National Register of Historic Places. 

It’s easy to see why the old Polk County Courthouse is one of the most beautiful buildings in Polk County, but the only way to truly appreciate this grand building is to see it in person!  We invite you to join us during our museum season!