Historic Stearns County Courthouse
Address: 725 Courthouse Square, St. Cloud MN 56303
Constructed of brick and granite and raised on a ten-foot pedestal, the Stearns County Courthouse is registered as a historic landmark.
The following is the inscription that lies above the Courthouse's main entrance pillars and best describes the basis of the citizens of Stearns County's past and the outlook for its citizens of the future.
"A Landmark of Civic Progress and a Memorial to Sturdy Pioneers"
Since the organization of Stearns County in 1855 there was a concern by many persons, including reports from Grand Juries, requesting that adequate structure be provided to conduct County and judicial business.
The first efforts for building a Courthouse began on July 8, 1856. The red brick, stone foundation structure was completed on July 12, 1864. It was erected in the center of a 200 x 200 foot lot known as Columbia Square.
On December 9, 1919, the authorization of the demolition of the old Courthouse was given. The existing Courthouse was completed on September 1, 1922 at a cost of $850,000. In the original plans, a mall was to run down from each entering street, but land acquisition prevented this construction from happening.
A $4.2 million renovation of the Courthouse was completed early December, 1991. Overall, the project included restoration work, replacement of heating, cooling, and electrical systems, and installation of new windows and elevators. Original woodwork, marble, and color schemes in the main courtroom and judges' chambers preserved the history that has developed within the Courthouse walls. To top it off, the familiar yellow terra cotta tile dome and its four clocks were restored and enhanced with better lighting.
The major court administration department functions that take place in the Courthouse include civil case trials (personal injury, wrongful death, etc.) and the management side of court files (case filings, certified copies of civil documents, jury assembly, calendaring of individual cases for judges, etc.).
Courthouse Facts
At the top of the main stairway is a mural depicting the pioneer heritage, which was painted in place at the time of construction for $18,000. - The dome is 109 feet tall, has an inner dome that is 26 feet in diameter, and has an outside dome that is 46 feet in diameter.
- The six granite columns at the main entrance are 36 feet high and 4.5 feet in diameter. Each weighs 50 tons.
- The building originally had separate dormitories, wash rooms, and "shower baths" for male and female jurors.
- Rest rooms used to be designed so that they were accessible on Sundays and holidays, with an ornamental steel grille that stretched out to bar access to the rest of the building.
- The building originally had a kitchenette equipped with a gas stove designed so farmers wives could cook or warm food for themselves and family members when they came to town on shopping trips.
- In 1992, Hollywood filmmakers used the ceremonial courtroom and second floor rotunda to film scenes of "The Mighty Ducks," starring Emilio Estevez.