The center portion of the courthouse in Oconto is one of the few
surviving from the late 1800's. Additions on either side add needed
space but at least the county expanded the building, rather than
destroying this beautiful landmark and building anew.
The first courthouse burned down in 1891 and it was rebuilt for
the tidy some of $50,000. In 1907 the upper levels burned and were
rebuilt at that time. The site of the courthouse is also the site
of a lynching that occurred in Oconto. Somewhere I have an
eyewitness account of that event (as told to a reporter in the
1930's.) When I find it, I'll post it here.
To credit your find, email me the color that is mentioned on the
dedication plaque at the veteran's memorial located on the
courthouse grounds. No internet finds, please. Log your find and
I'll get back to you if it's incorrect.
After your find, if you're into this sort of thing, there are
some huge victorian-style houses located on Main street from the
bygone days when Oconto was the center of the lumber industry in
the area.
A newspaper article from 1931 describing the 40th anniversary of
the laying of the courthouse cornerstone is here.