Florence County Courthouse

Florence County Courthouse. And Former Jail. , This property has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior. Court House and Former Jail, 1889. , Florence County Courthouse and Jail , The courthouse and jail were built in 1889 at a total cost of $28,282.83. Both are listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. , In 1882 Florence County was formed from portions of Marinette and Oconto counties. In May 1889 the county supervisors accepted the plans that James E. Clancy submitted for a courthouse. These plans showed a 40 foot high Romanesque Revival style building made of Wisconsin sandstone and blue limestone trimming. It had a high pitched roof, round turrets, arched doors and windows, and a 65 foot tower. Clancy was retained to supervise the construction which was completed in 8 months. , In the last century: , 1921 · The vestibule was added to the original entrance. , 1941 · The tower was removed, due to deterioration. , 1963 · An addition was built on the east side for the sheriff's department and a small courtroom. , 1994 · A 10,000 sq. ft. expansion was built to the south with an elevator and additional office space. , These changes have helped keep the graceful old building serving Florence County now and into the future. , , Clancy also drew up plans for a small jail. It featured two steel cells for men and an iron cell for women, which were made by the Diebold Safe and Lock Co of Ohio. The county stopped using the jail in the 1930's. After years of disuse, in 2006 an exterior renovation of the jail was completed through the efforts of the Jeffris Family Foundation, Florence County Board, Florence Utilities and the Florence County Historical Society. That preserved one of the two remaining examples of this type of jail in Wisconsin.