Wilkin County Courthouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Wilkin County Courthouse
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The Wilkin County Courthouse from the west
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 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
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| Location | 316 5th Street S., Breckenridge, Minnesota |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1928–9 |
| Architect | Buechner & Orth |
| Architectural style | Beaux-Arts |
| MPS | Wilkin County MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 80002182 |
| Added to NRHP | July 17, 1980 |
The Wilkin County Courthouse is an important government building. It is located in Breckenridge, Minnesota. This building serves as the main office for Wilkin County. It was built a long time ago, between 1928 and 1929.
The courthouse is special because of its design. It is also important for the local government. In 1980, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is a historically important building.
What the Courthouse Looks Like
The Wilkin County Courthouse has two main floors. It also has a basement that is partly above ground. The building is made from light-colored brick. It also uses a type of stone called Indiana limestone.
The building's style is called Beaux-Arts. This style was popular for grand buildings. But this courthouse also has a modern look from the 1920s. It has tall brick columns, called pilasters, on its sides. These go up to a decorative ledge, called a cornice.
Above the cornice, there is a high wall called a parapet. On this wall, you can read a special message: "To None Will We Delay, To None Will We Deny, Right or Justice." Even though the roof looks flat, there is a hidden stained-glass dome inside. This dome is over the main hall.
Above the front door, there is a window called a transom. On top of this window is a stone eagle. This eagle is about 4 feet (1.2 meters) tall. You can also see carved flowers and ribbons on the building.
Inside, the floors are made of a shiny material called terrazzo. The doors are made of steel and bronze. There are fancy plaster designs on the walls. The lower parts of the walls are covered in pink Tennessee marble. You can also see brass decorations. There are even paintings inside that show what life was like in Wilkin County in the 1800s.
History of the Building
The courthouse you see today is not the first one. The original courthouse was built in 1883. But it sadly burned down in 1924. So, a new building was needed.
The new courthouse was designed by architects from Saint Paul. Their company was called Buechner & Orth. A company named Redlinger & Hanson built it. They were paid over $200,000 for the work. This was a lot of money back then!
The special message on the building, "To None Will We Delay, To None Will We Deny, Right or Justice," comes from a very old document. It is a famous quote from the Magna Carta. The Magna Carta is a historic document from England. It is about rights and justice.
