Martin County Courthouse
In 1907, the Martin County Courthouse first story is built of Marquette rain-drop sandstone from Michigan, and the second and third stories are built of Buff-Bedford lime-stone from Indiana. The foundation of the building is made of solid concrete about five feet deep. The building is classical in architecture. It is made fire proof throughout. Its construction was commenced on April 9th, 1906, cornerstone was laid June 11, 1906, building was completed November 1, 1907. It is 79 feet by 116 feet in size, and height to the top of the roof is 50 feet. The dome extends 58 feet above the roof, making it 108 feet from the ground to the ball on the dome. The total cost of the building, including heating, lighting, steel and wood furniture, paintings and decorating, and the plumbing, was a little less than $125,000. It was built in the western part of the City of Fairmont on an eminence of ground over looking beautiful Lake Sisseton.
The ground floor was divided into offices for the Judge of Probate, Superintendent of Schools, Surveyor and restrooms. The second floor was divided into offices for the County Commissioners, Auditor, Treasurer, Register of Deeds and Clerk of Court. The third floor was divided into District Court Chambers, Court room, Jury rooms, and an office for the County Attorney. The rotunda and corridors on the different floors were large and spacious and there were settees for the accommodation of the public.
Now, the Martin County Courthouse has gone through many changes, too many to go into great detail. Here are just a few; changing from gas to electric lighting, wooden framed windows to metal framed windows, new front steps, going from no air conditioning to window air conditioning to centralized unit air conditioning.
One of the biggest changes was the new addition in 1996, which included an elevator making the building handicap accessible and adding more office space. Touchup of the beautiful murals was very carefully done by professionals & front lamp posts were re-installed in 2005. Many of the interior halls and trim were painted in 2006, along with added wall stenciling.
The ground floor is now divided into the County Commissioner’s Meeting Room, County Coordinator’s Office, Planning and Zoning Office, University of MN Extension Office 4-H, Martin County Mentoring Office, Solid Waste Office. The second floor is divided into the Auditor/Treasurer’s Office including Drainage Administration, Recorder’s Office and Management Information System’s Office.
The third floor is divided into the 5th District Judge’s Chambers, Court Room, Juror Room and Law Library.
For more information, visit the website for the Martin County Courthouse.