Decatur County Journal
July 9, l908

'NEW DECATUR COUNTY COURT HOUSE DEDICATED'

Crowd of l0,000 People Attended the Dedication Ceremonies and Monster Fourth of July Celebration Held in Leon Last Saturday. Program Proved Highly Entertaining to the Large Crowd.

CROWD.................l0,000
Arrests.....................none
Accidents.................one

Fair weather and a delightful atmosphere with an excellent program, rendered the combined Court House dedication and Fourth of July celebration ever held in Leon.

All the week, people from a distance, many of them former residents of Leon and Decatur County, arrived in the city to attend the dedication of the magnificent new County Building and to enjoy the mammoth Fourth of July program that had been prepared for the day. Friday the arrival of guests increased until all trains entering the city were compelled to use extra coaches which, with the regular coaches, were crowded to overflowing. With the arrival of the first train on the Fourth, at 5:36 a.m. from the north on the C.B.&Q. the crowd began to thicken and as the special train arrived at eight o'clock from Kellerton, Lamoni, Davis City and other points from the south and west, the steady stream of excursionists fairly blocked the streets as they came from the depot. At Kellerton, where one special started, l25 tickets were sold to Leon and when the train had passed Lamoni and reached Davis City, people were packed in the aisles and were clinging to the platforms of the many cars. Another big crowd was brought into the city at 8:45 by the special that started at Ellston and came by the way of Van Wert. All this time from early sun up, people had been driving into Leon from all parts of the county in spite of the fact that the rain of the previous day had made the roads quite muddy. They came from every direction and with the arrival of the regular trains on the K.&W., and C.B.&Q. at 11:30, the mammoth crowd numbered l0,000 or more easily.

It was a good natured crowd out for a day of enjoyment and it certainly proved such for them. They rejoiced together over the completion of our fine new Court House and the good cheer spread through the assembled hosts and every face beamed forth a happy smile. The Leon Commercial Club, which organization had arranged the big celebration, had their arrangements so perfectly made that the enormous crowd was entertained royally from the time of arrival until their departure in the evening. Everybody inspected the Court House from top to bottom and were delighted. Many times, people who had traveled much were heard to remark that the building was the most conveniently arranged and the best finished Court House they had ever seen. Such remarks were sweetest music to the ears of Decatur County people and pride in the big structure increased and spread throughout the dense throng that surged through the business section and even into the side streets and residence districts. Leon people placed their beautiful lawns at the disposal of the city's guests and those who had brought big well filled lunch baskets had plenty of room and a pleasant place to enjoy the noonday meal. The people of Leon had established numerous eating houses and none went hungry. All were able to get good food and this fact demonstrated the ability of Leon the best town in this section of the State, to care for large crowds. As the excursionists arrived in the city, large numbers secured Court House badges which they displayed proudly and then as the Garden Grove band opened the day's program with a concert in the band stand at the southwest corner of the Court House park, the people passed into all entrances of the Court House and passed from the basement story to the third floor and then on out to make room for the crowds that were following close upon them.

It will be remembered that the contract for the building was let January 29, l907, to Lauritzen Bros., of Waterloo, and J.J. Peterson, who has erected the building as the representative of Lauritzen Bros., arrived in the city on March 9, l907, and commenced actual operations upon the work on the twentieth day of the same month. From the moment that the first bit of earth was turned, Mr. Peterson rushed the work with all speed consistent with the very best workmanship. Mr. Peterson and his men were making excellent progress when a delay in the shipment of structural steel caused them to get behind, but when the steel arrived, they set to work with a will and rapidly recovered their lost ground and had the building completed and ready for delivery to the county several days before the time that the contract stipulated that the structure should be finished.

The big building is fire proof throughout. The floors are constructed of cement and marble, the floors inside the railings and in the court room being of oak laid over the cement. Iron, steel, stone, tile, brick, marble and granite with very little hard wood are the materials used in erecting the new Court House. The fixtures in the various offices are of steel, the counters being covered with polished granite. The wood furniture is of the best quality. An idea of the size and amount of labor necessary to erect the building can be gained from the following list, giving the number of cars of various materials used in the work of construction:

Material Cars

Sand. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Brick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Cut Stone. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Crushed Stone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Cinders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Expanded Metal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . l
Flooring. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Structural Steel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Plaster. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Cement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Window Frames . . . . . . . . . . . . . . l
Mill Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . l
Steam Heating Plant . . . . . . . . . . . . l
Marble. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Other Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

The arrangement of the building is excellent. The court room extends across the north part of the top floor from east to west, with the judges' bench located in the east end. A private office for the use of the judges is just back of the judicial desk. An elevator for hoisting books and documents from the clerk's office below is also near at hand. The balance of that floor is given over to the office of the county attorney, library, grand jury, and trial jury rooms. On the next floor below, the main floor, are located the offices of the recorder, clerk, auditor, treasurer, board of supervisors and sheriff. The treasurer's office is located in the southwest corner, the auditor in the southeast corner, the clerk in the northeast corner and the recorder in the northwest corner. The sheriff's office is located between the offices of the recorder and clerk on the north, and the office of the board of supervisors between the offices of the clerk and auditor on the east. The basement story is divided most conveniently. The county superintendent's office is located in the northeast corner, the ladies' rest room on the southeast corner and the county surveyor's office in the southwest corner. The storage vault room is just north of the surveyor's quarters. The boiler room is in the northwest corner. Iron stairways are used all over the building.

J.A. Wilson, of Garden Grove, who has served as superintendent of the work for Decatur County, has watched carefully the work of building the structure and he reported at all times that the material entering into the building was of the best and that the work of Mr. Peterson and his men was all that could be asked. Mr. Wilson is a builder of much ability himself and the board of supervisors was indeed fortunate in securing him to act in the capacity of superintendent for the people.

The W.G. Andrews Decorating Co., of Clinton, did the decorating and many stated that the decorations were the finest to be found in any Court House in the State. Their men were artists of great ability. J.T. Cook, of St. Paul, had charge of the plastering and ornamental plaster work, and he did his work well indeed. The plumbing and heating contract was handled by Wallace & Linane, of Des Moines, and the firm finished up their work promptly and well. Smith, Wetherell & Gage, the Des Moines Architects, prepared the plans which have so generally delighted everyone. They have designed many public buildings and their great experience enabled them to produce plans for a structure that is substantially built and most conveniently arranged in every way. Decatur County is indeed proud of the new Court House.

The placing of the electrical fixtures was done by Geo. W. Sears, his son, Ray Sears, and their assistants.

The dedication ceremonies took place directly after dinner following a concert by the Lamoni bank, following the invocation by Rev. J.L. Boyd, Pastor of the Leon M.E. Church. Judge John W. Harvey delivered a short address of welcome and introduced Judge Smith McPherson, of the United States District Court, who delivered the dedicatory address. Judge McPherson is a pleasing speaker and his excellent address was highly interesting to the large audience that greeted him. He said in part:

"This is the day the nation celebrates in remembrance of the heroic deeds of the patriots of l776. They were few in numbers but the spirit of freedom and devotion to the cause of liberty and independence, inspired the immortal instrument, the Declaration of Independence. Three millions of people, against many times that number, won the battles which made them free. Many years of devastating war followed but the colonists placed their faith in the God of battles, who never deserts the weak in a just and righteous cause. I am not here to make the Fourth of July speech but to assist in dedicating the new Court House. The people of Decatur County are to be congratulated. This magnificent new building is a credit to the enterprise, energy and thrift of the people of the county and will furnish a home for the records of the county for the next fifty years. There is not the equal of this building, so far as I know, in southern Iowa."

Judge McPherson then recalled the earlier days when he was district attorney and said many pleasant recollections recurred to him upon this occasion and he was grateful to the committee for the privilege of being present and adding his testimony to the great progress made by our people.

The citizens of this county were pleased to have present and hear Judge Smith McPherson.

Judge H.M. Towner, of Corning, was the next speaker. He spoke of the origin of the jury system, the foundation of laws and touched upon the early courts of this State. He paid a high compliment to the people who were here last Saturday. He stated that he had never seen a better behaved, better dressed or more intelligent gathering of people. He congratulated the people upon the completion of the fine new Court House, a safe home for the county records. Judge Towner is an excellent speaker and our people always take advantage of an opportunity to hear him.

Following Judge Towner, Judge H.K. Evans, of Corydon, addressed the people. Judge Evans is an orator of much ability and his remarks were very interesting. He spoke along the lines of the formation of our early courts and our county buildings up to the present time. He stated that the people of Decatur County were fortunate in having such a magnificent Court House, so well constructed, so nicely finished and conveniently arranged. The people enjoyed Judge Evans' address very much.

The morning Fourth of July program opened at 8 o'clock with a concert by the Garden Grove band which was followed by a concert by the Lamoni band. This band with the Garden Grove, Grand River, and the High School and K. of P. bands of Leon, furnished excellent music all day that was greatly appreciated by the people. A beautiful sash drill by a number of young girls during the morning was greatly appreciated by those who were fortunate enough to see it. The girls produced the same drill with which they had pleased so greatly at a recent entertainment given under the auspices of the Endeavor Societies of the Leon Christian Church.

A ball game between the Leon and Davis City baseball teams during the morning attracted a large crowd of baseball enthusiasts who enjoyed a score of 4 to 3. Harry Hemphill, known as "Huntress," and the Martins gave a free open air performance during the morning, one in the afternoon and one in the evening. They are all high class vaudeville people and their performance proved satisfactory. While not working on the big platform in the park, they were giving continuous vaudeville performances in the Van Werden Opera House, attracting large audiences. Manager, J.W. Delk, had large audiences at the Lyric moving picture theatre on the north side of the public square. The Lyric was open all day, giving a continuous performance. The Grand River band played a concert and the high diving dog at the merry-go-round wound up the morning's program, the big trades parade having been postponed until three o'clock that afternoon on account of the muddy streets.

The afternoon program of sports was highly entertaining and an immense crowd witnessed each event.

Among those who were successful in the various contests during the afternoon were: Chas. Dobson, John Konklin, J.H. Chandler, Clyde Mitten, Willard Gassett, Arthur Edwards, L.E. Clark, Ross Dale, Milo Moore, T.H. Ryan.

Little Merna West was the winner of the prize offered to the prettiest girl baby and little Wayne Jones was awarded the prize for the prettiest boy baby.

At three o'clock the big trades parade occurred; it was a lengthy procession and accompanying the many floats were the five excellent bands. The order of the parade was as follows:

Members of the G.A.R. led by the Martial Band.

Following came Farquhar & Sons with an excellent float upon which a nice display of hardware was arranged.

J.A. Caster's artistically arranged float was next with a nicely arranged grocery display.

Wade Lindsey with a float representing his second hand store was next in line.

The elaborate float of the Leon Plant of the Clarinda Poultry, Butter and Egg Co., drawn by four horses, and followed by a procession of employees came next in order. The float was highly praised as were all the others.

The "Merry Widow" representing Thompson & Warner, the dry goods and millinery dealers, was one of the hits of the parade.

The Leon Fire Department with the large engine drawn by a spirited team attracted much attention.

The Kraft Clothing Co. had a nicely arranged float representing most appropriately their popular establishment.

Ogilvie & Gardner, the grocers, had a neatly made float that attracted much attention.

Bell & Robinson, the druggists, had put in much time in making their float and their efforts produced one of the best in the parade.

Bowsher & Bowsher, with a number of buggies fastened together and with another buggy on top made a most unusual display.

H.A. Wright, the implement man, was appropriately represented.

H.L. Long, the dry good dealer, had a nicely arranged float.

The Reporter was represented by the "office devil" in burlesque seated upon a horse.

P.E. Brady, manager of the C.A. Hubacher Lumber Yard, had a large float upon which the girls of the M.I.S. Club rode. They were greeted with much applause.

Harry J. Vogt & Co. had a neat grocery display upon a nicely draped float.

C.M. Keller & Co., the real estate dealers, had a carriage and several banners in the parade.

The Journal force of compositors rode in a carriage which bore cards reading "The people who set the type on the Journal."

Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
November 4, 200l