The original architectural design of the courthouse in 1901 by Fremont D. Orff, of Minneapolis. Donated by Luther Gilbert in 1974 from a Minneapolis newspaper in September 1902.
Editor’s Note: While organizing in the Research Library I located this newspaper clipping. See below for the letter submitted by Mr. Gilbert in 1974. The letter shows how much pride we can have in our hometowns and counties.
Caption from clipping: Plans are now being drawn by Architect Fremont D. Orff for a new courthouse to be erected in Renville County, at Olivia. The structure will cost $75,000 at the present building but will be so constructed that subsequent additions may be built at any time. The interior finishings will be of hardwood, except the lobbies and public halls, which will be finished up in marble and tile. The building will be classic in exterior design and will resemble architecturally a great deal a courthouse recently built by Mr. Orff in Iowa. The plans call for the completion of the building by September 1902. Work will commence this summer.
The completed Renville County Courthouse in 1902 at a cost of $88,000.The Renville County Courthouse in 2016 in Olivia, Minnesota. It received a facelift in 2002.
Luther B. Gilbert 3225 Ewing Ave North Minneapolis, MN 55422 Nov. 14, 1974 Chairman Board of County Commissions Olivia, Minnesota 56277 Dear Sir: Enclosed is a clipping from a Minneapolis about September 1902. It shows the Court House for Renville County about to be built, I thought it would be of interest to your Board or to a local historical society. I am the third generation of Gilberts that lived in Glencoe, my grandfather Gideon K. Gilbert came to Glencoe in 1857. My father L.W. Gilbert was born there in 1859 and I in 1890. My grandfather owned several sections of land north of Hector which he sold at a good price for that date of $6.00 an acre. He also started a bank at Hector in early times. My father and I owned 330 acres just west of the City of Hector. I have seen many changes in your county, all for the good. Very truly, Luther Gilbert
Angeline Daby Francis Macheldt Myrtle Factor Merle Wilson Audella Tompkins Lawrence Ruhland L.S. Graves (Supt. Morton) Miss Moran (Teacher Morton) Charlotte Zibell William Revier Norbert Wolter Maurice Ahrens Edith Ahrens Patricia Sullivan Albert Hutchinson Nora McGowan Albatena Drury Ray Scheffler
Editor’s Note: We are seeking assistance on correctly labeling our high school graduate photograph that would include the married names. Any other information would be helpful as well including information on the graduates (lived, married, etc.). Email [email protected] if you have information to share on this graduation class.
This is a photograph of what the Renville County Courthouse looked like in 1895.
Arab like, the county officials have broken camp at Beaver Falls and pitched their tents in Olivia. They claim they had no right to transact business in Beaver Falls, after the dissolving of the injunction which held them there. They noted upon the opinion of County Attorney Miller, who, no doubt, has formed his opinion from the law governing appeals, and from the fact that the county officials are required by law to keep their offices at the county seat. But where is the county seat? That question is still undecided and will remain so until the courts are done with it. No law specifically provides for the location of the county seat during a contest, and we conclude from this that it was not the intent of the law to remove the county seat until the final decision of the courts so ordered. Notwithstanding this, we do not doubt that decisions having parallel significance and conclusions by attorneys from various points of law may hold that when there is no injunction or other proceeding retaining the county seat at Beaver (Falls), the proceedings (appeal) on the original question have no retaining power from removal. However it may be, it is an unjust law to the taxpayer that allows the county records to be carted about the cunty until it is definitely decided that the place removed to will be their future abode-the county seat. It is said that about 30 or 40 teams were employed in removing the records from Beaver to Olivia and that all Olivia took a holiday.
Editor’s Note: I checked the May 10 and 17 Renville County Union newspapers and there was no mention of this event. We are missing May 24 – June 7, 1895 Renville County Union newspapers.
Editor’s Note: Deleuda est Olivia translation: Olivia must be destroyed! The Renville County Union was published in Bird Island and would later on November 20, 1903, would be named the Bird Island Union.
To the People of Renville County: That our friends in all parts of the county may understand our conduct in the latest development of the county seat contest, we make the following statement: We believe and for weeks past have believed that Olivia’s petition will not stand the test of the law. On the 21st day of September, we applied to Judge Powers for a temporary injunction to prevent action on the Olivia petition. The Judge refused to grant the injunction but issued an order requiring the Commissioners to show cause on the 24th of September, why the injunction should not be issued. At the same time, he admitted that the complaint on which we applied for an injunction stated a cause of action, therefore his refusal to issue the injunction cannot count against our position. We refused to serve the order to show cause; for the reason that even after the hearing on this order the Judge might again refuse the injunction. We knew that if he did so the commissioners would then in all probability refuse to listen to our objections and would proceed to act on the Olivia petition. Of course, we could appeal, but before the appeal could be decided the county seat would be moved to Olvia. As our only object in attempting to secure the injunction was precautionary, we then dropped the matter and decided to rely entirely upon the sense of fairness and judgment of the Board. We, therefore, appeared before the Board on the 24th and asked them to refuse to act on the Olivia petition until the several questions of law were decided and for the following reasons: FIRST. We offered to step into the county’s shoes and bear all the expense of the contest. SECOND. If the Board should refuse to act, Olivia could commence mandamus proceedings which would stop all action on the petition until the law questions could be decided by the Supreme Court, while if we commences an injunction proceeding on notice, ti might not stop such action on the petition, and in case the courts should afterward hold against Olivia on any of these questions of law the county would have to bear the heavy expense of a special election all for nothing. THIRD. If the Board should refuse to act they would be treating Olivia the same as they did Bird Island by obliging her to prove the validity of her petition in the courts as they required Bird Island to do. But a majority of the Board refused to listen to ur arguments, although the attorney general in a written opinion expressed doubt as to the validity of the Olivia petition. The Board by a majority vote has called an election on the Olivia petition to be held on October 25. In view of the above facts, Bird Island must either lie down and allow the county seat to be moved to Olivia on what we regard as illegal proceedings, or we must take such steps as the law allows to protect our rights. We have determined to pursue the latter course. We shall do our utmost to prevent Olivia from receiving the required 55 percent of votes to be cast at the proposed election, and if she does succeed in carrying the election we will contest the election in the courts. We, therefore, appeal to all who wish this matter settled according to law to stand by us in our attempt to carry out the above program. WE gain remind the people of the county that our “Court House” still stands in imposing grandeur on one of the finest blocks of land in Renville County and in the beautiful village at the head of navigation, the far-famed deed to which block and building is still held by the county auditor. Dated October 2nd, 1900. Bird Island Co. Seat Committee
This building was originally built to be the Renville County Courthouse as referred to above. It served as a school for a few years and then we destroyed by fire.
The Supreme Court, by its decision on the 2nd of
August, 1900, has turned the Bird Island petition down, holding in its decision
that the Board of County Commissioners had no jurisdiction to act upon the said
petition at the meeting which was called the 23rd of August, 1899,
at which time, the Board of Commissioners decided that they had no jurisdiction
to act upon the said petition at that time. The Supreme Court sustained them in
that action.
Bird Island is no longer in the field as a contestant for county seat honors, the only fight now, is between Beaver Falls and Olivia, and all those who desire removal should support Olivia, as it is the only place to which the county seat can be removed from Beaver Falls.
The news of the court’s decision was received last Thursday
and to say that the people of Olivia were jubilant, is, of course, putting it
very mildly. For over twenty years the time-worn question of removing the
county seat from its present location at Beaver Falls, to either Bird Island or
Olivia, has been before the people of the county, but a stubborn resistance on
both sides and much lawin’, has left the matter unsettled all these years much
to the inconvenience and discomfort of those living any great distance from the
county seat. The farmers and residents of other towns have all along asserted
that the county seat must be moved toa more central point in the county, and
have signified their willingness to support the contesting town securing a
legal petition. Bird Island’s petition has been declared illegal by the highest
court in Minnesota, which ends county seat matters as far as that place is
concerned.
The 2nd Courthouse Built in Beaver Falls completed May 1900 for $2000.
Editor’s Note: You can buy a copy of The Renville County Courthouse Story via our website. We continue to research and learn every day!
Posted: April 1, 2020 by Renville County Historical Society Leave a Comment
The New Renville County Court House published in a Minnesota Newspaper circa July 1901
Editor’s Note: While organizing in the Research Library I located this newspaper clipping. See below for the letter submitted by Mr. Gilbert in 1974. The letter shows how much pride we can have in our hometowns and counties.
Caption from clipping: Plans are now being drawn by Architect Fremont D. Orff for a new courthouse to be erected in Renville County, at Olivia. The structure will cost $75,000 at the present building but will be so constructed that subsequent additions may be built at any time. The interior finishings will be of hardwood, except the lobbies and public halls, which will be finished up in marble and tile. The building will be classic in exterior design and will resemble architecturally a great deal a courthouse recently built by Mr. Orff in Iowa. The plans call for the completion of the building by September 1902. Work will commence this summer.
Luther B. Gilbert
3225 Ewing Ave North
Minneapolis, MN 55422
Nov. 14, 1974
Chairman Board of County Commissions
Olivia, Minnesota 56277
Dear Sir:
Enclosed is a clipping from a Minneapolis about September 1902. It shows the Court House for Renville County about to be built, I thought it would be of interest to your Board or to a local historical society.
I am the third generation of Gilberts that lived in Glencoe, my grandfather Gideon K. Gilbert came to Glencoe in 1857. My father L.W. Gilbert was born there in 1859 and I in 1890. My grandfather owned several sections of land north of Hector which he sold at a good price for that date of $6.00 an acre. He also started a bank at Hector in early times. My father and I owned 330 acres just west of the City of Hector.
I have seen many changes in your county, all for the good.
Very truly,
Luther Gilbert
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Posted: March 24, 2020 by Renville County Historical Society Leave a Comment
Morton High School Class of 1934
The Class of 1934 from Morton High School
Angeline Daby
Francis Macheldt
Myrtle Factor
Merle Wilson
Audella Tompkins
Lawrence Ruhland
L.S. Graves (Supt. Morton)
Miss Moran (Teacher Morton)
Charlotte Zibell
William Revier
Norbert Wolter
Maurice Ahrens
Edith Ahrens
Patricia Sullivan
Albert Hutchinson
Nora McGowan
Albatena Drury
Ray Scheffler
Editor’s Note: We are seeking assistance on correctly labeling our high school graduate photograph that would include the married names. Any other information would be helpful as well including information on the graduates (lived, married, etc.). Email [email protected] if you have information to share on this graduation class.
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Posted: March 20, 2020 by Renville County Historical Society Leave a Comment
County Records Gone published in the Morton Enterprise on May 10, 1895
Arab like, the county officials have broken camp at Beaver Falls and pitched their tents in Olivia. They claim they had no right to transact business in Beaver Falls, after the dissolving of the injunction which held them there. They noted upon the opinion of County Attorney Miller, who, no doubt, has formed his opinion from the law governing appeals, and from the fact that the county officials are required by law to keep their offices at the county seat. But where is the county seat? That question is still undecided and will remain so until the courts are done with it. No law specifically provides for the location of the county seat during a contest, and we conclude from this that it was not the intent of the law to remove the county seat until the final decision of the courts so ordered. Notwithstanding this, we do not doubt that decisions having parallel significance and conclusions by attorneys from various points of law may hold that when there is no injunction or other proceeding retaining the county seat at Beaver (Falls), the proceedings (appeal) on the original question have no retaining power from removal. However it may be, it is an unjust law to the taxpayer that allows the county records to be carted about the cunty until it is definitely decided that the place removed to will be their future abode-the county seat.
It is said that about 30 or 40 teams were employed in removing the records from Beaver to Olivia and that all Olivia took a holiday.
Editor’s Note: I checked the May 10 and 17 Renville County Union newspapers and there was no mention of this event. We are missing May 24 – June 7, 1895 Renville County Union newspapers.
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Posted: March 20, 2020 by Renville County Historical Society Leave a Comment
BIRD ISLAND MUST WIN! DELEUDA EST OLIVIA! published in the Renville County Union newspaper on October 5, 1900.
Editor’s Note: Deleuda est Olivia translation: Olivia must be destroyed! The Renville County Union was published in Bird Island and would later on November 20, 1903, would be named the Bird Island Union.
To the People of Renville County:
That our friends in all parts of the county may understand our conduct in the latest development of the county seat contest, we make the following statement:
We believe and for weeks past have believed that Olivia’s petition will not stand the test of the law. On the 21st day of September, we applied to Judge Powers for a temporary injunction to prevent action on the Olivia petition. The Judge refused to grant the injunction but issued an order requiring the Commissioners to show cause on the 24th of September, why the injunction should not be issued. At the same time, he admitted that the complaint on which we applied for an injunction stated a cause of action, therefore his refusal to issue the injunction cannot count against our position. We refused to serve the order to show cause; for the reason that even after the hearing on this order the Judge might again refuse the injunction. We knew that if he did so the commissioners would then in all probability refuse to listen to our objections and would proceed to act on the Olivia petition. Of course, we could appeal, but before the appeal could be decided the county seat would be moved to Olvia. As our only object in attempting to secure the injunction was precautionary, we then dropped the matter and decided to rely entirely upon the sense of fairness and judgment of the Board.
We, therefore, appeared before the Board on the 24th and asked them to refuse to act on the Olivia petition until the several questions of law were decided and for the following reasons:
FIRST. We offered to step into the county’s shoes and bear all the expense of the contest.
SECOND. If the Board should refuse to act, Olivia could commence mandamus proceedings which would stop all action on the petition until the law questions could be decided by the Supreme Court, while if we commences an injunction proceeding on notice, ti might not stop such action on the petition, and in case the courts should afterward hold against Olivia on any of these questions of law the county would have to bear the heavy expense of a special election all for nothing.
THIRD. If the Board should refuse to act they would be treating Olivia the same as they did Bird Island by obliging her to prove the validity of her petition in the courts as they required Bird Island to do.
But a majority of the Board refused to listen to ur arguments, although the attorney general in a written opinion expressed doubt as to the validity of the Olivia petition.
The Board by a majority vote has called an election on the Olivia petition to be held on October 25.
In view of the above facts, Bird Island must either lie down and allow the county seat to be moved to Olivia on what we regard as illegal proceedings, or we must take such steps as the law allows to protect our rights.
We have determined to pursue the latter course. We shall do our utmost to prevent Olivia from receiving the required 55 percent of votes to be cast at the proposed election, and if she does succeed in carrying the election we will contest the election in the courts.
We, therefore, appeal to all who wish this matter settled according to law to stand by us in our attempt to carry out the above program.
WE gain remind the people of the county that our “Court House” still stands in imposing grandeur on one of the finest blocks of land in Renville County and in the beautiful village at the head of navigation, the far-famed deed to which block and building is still held by the county auditor.
Dated October 2nd, 1900.
Bird Island Co. Seat Committee
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Posted: March 19, 2020 by Renville County Historical Society Leave a Comment
Bird Island Turned Down…Supreme Court of Minnesota Decides Her Petition an Illegal One… Published in the Olivia Times on August 2, 1900.
The Supreme Court, by its decision on the 2nd of August, 1900, has turned the Bird Island petition down, holding in its decision that the Board of County Commissioners had no jurisdiction to act upon the said petition at the meeting which was called the 23rd of August, 1899, at which time, the Board of Commissioners decided that they had no jurisdiction to act upon the said petition at that time. The Supreme Court sustained them in that action.
Bird Island is no longer in the field as a contestant for county seat honors, the only fight now, is between Beaver Falls and Olivia, and all those who desire removal should support Olivia, as it is the only place to which the county seat can be removed from Beaver Falls.
The news of the court’s decision was received last Thursday and to say that the people of Olivia were jubilant, is, of course, putting it very mildly. For over twenty years the time-worn question of removing the county seat from its present location at Beaver Falls, to either Bird Island or Olivia, has been before the people of the county, but a stubborn resistance on both sides and much lawin’, has left the matter unsettled all these years much to the inconvenience and discomfort of those living any great distance from the county seat. The farmers and residents of other towns have all along asserted that the county seat must be moved toa more central point in the county, and have signified their willingness to support the contesting town securing a legal petition. Bird Island’s petition has been declared illegal by the highest court in Minnesota, which ends county seat matters as far as that place is concerned.
Editor’s Note: You can buy a copy of The Renville County Courthouse Story via our website. We continue to research and learn every day!
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