Flanders' Block facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Flanders' Block
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Flanders' Block from the north
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 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
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| Location | 30 West Main Street, Madelia, Minnesota |
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| Area | Less than one acre |
| Built | 1872 |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 84001714 |
| Designated | March 8, 1984 |
Flanders' Block is an old and important building in Madelia, Minnesota, United States. It was built way back in 1872. For a few years, from 1872 to 1878, this building was super important. It served as the main government building for Watonwan County. Inside, it held the county's courthouse, offices, and even a jail!
Flanders' Block was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. This means it's recognized as a special place because of its role in the early government of Watonwan County.
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What Does Flanders' Block Look Like?
Flanders' Block has a cool design, especially on its second floor. You can see eight windows there, each with a rounded top, like an arch. When it was first built, the main floor also had five arched windows. The rest of the front had a regular storefront, like a shop.
Over the years, the front of the building was changed. But later, the owner removed the newer covers. They worked hard to bring back the original look of the storefront.
The Story of Flanders' Block
How Madelia Became a County Hub
The town of Madelia was planned out in 1857, right by the Watonwan River. A few years later, in 1860, Watonwan County was officially created. Madelia became the first "county seat." A county seat is the town where the main government offices for a county are located. It's like the county's capital city.
The first building used for the county government was made of wood. Sadly, it was destroyed in a fire. Around this time, another town called St. James wanted to become the county seat. St. James was more in the middle of the county and had a big railway station.
A New Home for the County Government
Madelia officials worried that the fire would give St. James a reason to take over as the county seat. So, they acted fast! Joseph Flanders, who was the county's first "registrar of deeds" (someone who keeps official records of property), had just finished building a new two-story building on Main Street.
Joseph Flanders agreed to let the county use his new building. The upper floor became the courtroom. Part of the first floor was used for county offices. And part of the basement was even used as the jail! The rest of the first floor was home to the Watonwan County Bank.
Disagreements Over Space
Not everyone was happy with this setup. The local newspaper, the Madelia Times, wrote about it in 1875. They felt that the county offices were not being treated fairly. The newspaper said that county officials had their desks and papers moved without being asked. They felt the county should have full use of the space they had leased.
Moving the County Seat
Even with the new building, Madelia couldn't keep its status as the county seat. In 1878, the county government officially moved to St. James.
After the county government left, Flanders' Block found new uses. An organization called the International Order of Odd Fellows used the upstairs for their meetings. The main floor continued to house different shops and businesses over the years.
