Mapleton Township in West Fargo in Cass County, North Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Cass County Courthouse
Photographed by Mark Parker, June 27, 2025
1. Cass County Courthouse Marker
Inscription.
Cass County Courthouse. . Fargo's current county courthouse is the third courthouse constructed for the town. The first opened in 1877 and later served as a YMCA building and boarding house. The second replaced the first in the mid-1880s and burned down during renovations in 1903. Architect Charles E. Bell designed the current courthouse in 1904 and it opened in 1906. In the 1970s, the county courthouse went through renovations to modify the large courtroom into two smaller district courtrooms. Furnishings used during all court proceedings from the years 1906-1967 were pulled during reconstruction and donated to Bonanzaville in 1978., Judge Charles A. Pollock, featured among the framed district court judges on the walls, operated as the Judge of District Court Cass County from 1897 to 1917. Pollock became known as the father of the prohibition law in North Dakota when a prohibition bill drafted by him passed the territorial council in 1889. By July 1, 1890, the open saloon no longer operated throughout North Dakota except in a few communities that opposed the ban of alcohol. Prior to nationwide prohibition in 1920, states had a local option law which allowed counties or towns to go dry if they chose to do so. Judge Pollock, however, was strict on issues involving alcohol since he believed that sellers of alcohol were as equally guilty of any crime committed by a drunk person who had been served at their establishment. Judge Pollock later served as President of the North Dakota Bar Association in 1921 and died on July 9, 1928., (Caption) Court case in session at the Cass County Courthouse, ca 1955
Fargo's current county courthouse is the third courthouse constructed for the town.
The first opened in 1877 and later served as a YMCA building and boarding house. The
second replaced the first in the mid-1880s and burned down during renovations in
1903. Architect Charles E. Bell designed the current courthouse in 1904 and it opened in 1906. In the 1970s, the county courthouse went through renovations to modify the large courtroom into two smaller district courtrooms. Furnishings used during all court proceedings from the years 1906-1967 were pulled during reconstruction and donated to Bonanzaville in 1978.
Judge Charles A. Pollock, featured among the framed district court judges on the walls, operated as the Judge of District Court Cass County from 1897 to 1917. Pollock became known as the father of the prohibition law in North Dakota when a prohibition bill drafted by him passed the territorial council in 1889. By July 1, 1890, the open saloon no longer operated throughout North Dakota except in a few communities that opposed the ban of alcohol. Prior to nationwide prohibition in 1920, states had a local option
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law which allowed counties or towns to go dry if they chose to do so. Judge Pollock, however, was strict on issues involving alcohol since he believed that sellers of alcohol were as equally guilty of any crime committed by a drunk person who had
been served at their establishment. Judge Pollock later served as President of the North Dakota Bar Association in 1921 and died on July 9, 1928.
(Caption)
Court case in session at the Cass County Courthouse, ca 1955
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Government & Politics. A significant historical year for this entry is 1906.
Location. 46° 52.566′ N, 96° 55.613′ W. Marker is in West Fargo, North Dakota, in Cass County. It is in Mapleton Township. It can be reached from Main Avenue West east of 21st Street Northwest, on the right when traveling east. The marker is the ramp leading to the 1906 Cass County Courthouse, which is part of Bonanzaville USA Historic Museum and Pioneer Village. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1351 Main Avenue W, West Fargo ND 58078, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the
Photographed by Mark Parker, June 27, 2025
2. 1906 Cass County Courthouse. Marker is right of the ramp
Red River Valley and in Greater Fargo Area. It is also in the American Lewis & Clark Corridor, on the prairies, and on the Northern Plains. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once Ruperts Land and also the Louisiana Purchase.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 19, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 16, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 102 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 16, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
