Norman County Courthouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Norman County Courthouse
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Norman County Courthouse
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| Location | 16 E.3rd Ave., Ada, Minnesota |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1904 |
| Architect | Omeyer & Thori |
| Architectural style | Romanesque |
| NRHP reference No. | 83000923 |
| Added to NRHP | May 9, 1983 |
The Norman County Courthouse is an old and important building in Ada, Minnesota. It's where the local government for Norman County does its work. This isn't the first building used for county business in Ada. Before this courthouse, county offices were in a two-story building nearby. The county rented that space from the village of Ada starting in 1883. After the new courthouse was built, the old building was moved to a different spot.
Contents
History of the Courthouse
Choosing the County Seat
For a while, there was a big debate about which town should be the "county seat." The county seat is the main town where the county government is located. Twin Valley, another town, wanted to be the county seat instead of Ada. At that time, Mahnomen County didn't exist yet. This meant Twin Valley was closer to the center of Norman County.
After three years of discussion, including two official requests and one vote, Ada won! It remained the county seat. In 1906, the debate ended completely when Mahnomen County was created. This made Norman County smaller and placed Ada right in the middle.
Building the New Courthouse
The current courthouse was finished in 1904. It was designed by a company called Omeyer & Thori. They designed it in a style known as Richardsonian Romanesque Revival. This style often uses heavy stone, round arches, and towers. Omeyer & Thori designed many buildings in the Midwest, and several are now listed as historic places.
The builder for the courthouse was Olaf Swenson, who came all the way from St. Paul. The entire building cost $60,637 to construct.
Soldiers' Memorial
A special monument called the Soldiers' Memorial was put up and dedicated on Memorial Day in 1926. This monument has a bronze statue of a World War I soldier. He stands on a granite base. On the base, there's a bronze plaque that says:
"Lest We Forget
In the Memory of the Norman County
sons who gave their lives
in the World War
1917-1919
This monument is dedicated"
Since then, two more plaques have been added to the monument. These new plaques honor the soldiers from Norman County who lost their lives in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.
Changes Over Time
In 1975, the courthouse got a new addition. A large section, about 50 feet by 80 feet, was built onto the south side of the original building. The original courthouse was about 90 feet by 90 feet.
The Norman County Courthouse was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. This means it's recognized as an important historical site.
