Florida Memory is administered by the Florida Department of State, Division of Library and Information Services, Bureau of Archives and Records Management. The digitized records on Florida Memory come from the collections of the State Archives of Florida and the special collections of the State Library of Florida.
State Archives of Florida
- ArchivesFlorida.com
- State Archives Online Catalog
- ArchivesFlorida.com
- ArchivesFlorida.com
State Library of Florida
Related Sites
Listen: The Assorted Selections Program
Description of previous item
Description of next item
Source
State Library of Florida, WPA - Historical Records Survey, County Histories
Description
Brief history of the courthouses of Columbia County, Florida collected by the Works Progress Administration's Historical Records Survey.
Date
ca. 1939
Contributors
Format
Coverage
Personal Subjects
Subjects
Geographic Term
Note to Researchers:
Though the WPA field workers included extensive citations for the factual information contained in these county histories, it should be noted that these historical narratives were produced in the 1930s by federal government employees, and might reflect the inherent social biases of the era.
WPA
File
THE COURTHOUSES OF COLUMBIA COUNTY, FLA.,
There have been no less than six courthouses in Columbia dating from 1867 to 1901. There are no facts existing as to to [sic] first Court House, except that it was destroyed by fire in 1867 in the month of February, and not even its site is known.
In December 1874, the courthouse that was built after the destruction of the first, in ’67, was also destroyed by fire. This was strongly suspected to be a case of arson, by some lawless characters who had been suspected of stealing hogs. An indictment was found against these persons for the abovementioned offense, and in their ignorance, common enough in those days, they believed that if the indictment were burnt, there could be no case against them. But there was not enough proof that these outlaws had set fire to the courthouse, so no charges were made.
While a third courthouse was in the course of construction, court was held anywhere where accommodations could be found, in assembly halls, lodge meeting rooms, dance halls and even theatres. Indeed one ”cause celebre” which stands out in the memory of the old residents of Lake City, was held in what was then known as Cleveland’s Opera House. This building which was several blocks from the burnt courthouse of 1874 (which stood at what is now the corner of the east side of Marion St, and the south side of East Franklin St.) was situated at the corner of what is now the east side of Marion St. and the north side of Madison St. was the scene of the trial for the murder by one Paxton of one Bethea. The circumstances of the case are not available, but Paxton was acquitted.
Another murder case was also held here but it had nothing to do with any of the residents of Columbia County. This was a case that had been transferred to this district which was then known as the Columbia Circuit District. The man in question whose name was Stern lived at Dead Man’s Bay in Dixie
Title
The Courthouses of Columbia County, Fla
Subject
Cities and towns--History
Florida--Columbia County
Courthouses
Works Progress Administration, Historical Records Survey
Description
Brief history of the courthouses of Columbia County, Florida collected by the Works Progress Administration's Historical Records Survey.
Creator
Works Progress Administration, Historical Records Survey
Source
State Library of Florida, WPA - Historical Records Survey, County Histories
Date
1939 (circa)
Contributor
Cline, John
Gillen, W.
Hodges, J.B.
Johnson, L.W.
Format
local histories
Language
eng-US
Type
Text
Identifier
wpa_county_history_columbia_01
Coverage
Depression Era Florida (1926-1939)
Thumbnail
/fpc/memory/omeka_images/thumbnails/wpa_county_histories.jpg
Geographic Term
Columbia County (Fla.)
Lake City (Fla.)
Olustee Park (Fla.)
Display Date
ca. 1939
ImageID
wpa_county_history_columbia_02_01
wpa_county_history_columbia_02_02
wpa_county_history_columbia_02_03
wpa_county_history_columbia_02_04
Subject - Person
Johnson, L. W.
Cline, John
Gillen, W.
Hodges, J. B.
Transcript
WPA
File
THE COURTHOUSES OF COLUMBIA COUNTY, FLA.,
There have been no less than six courthouses in Columbia dating from 1867 to 1901. There are no facts existing as to to [sic] first Court House, except that it was destroyed by fire in 1867 in the month of February, and not even its site is known.
In December 1874, the courthouse that was built after the destruction of the first, in ’67, was also destroyed by fire. This was strongly suspected to be a case of arson, by some lawless characters who had been suspected of stealing hogs. An indictment was found against these persons for the abovementioned offense, and in their ignorance, common enough in those days, they believed that if the indictment were burnt, there could be no case against them. But there was not enough proof that these outlaws had set fire to the courthouse, so no charges were made.
While a third courthouse was in the course of construction, court was held anywhere where accommodations could be found, in assembly halls, lodge meeting rooms, dance halls and even theatres. Indeed one ”cause celebre” which stands out in the memory of the old residents of Lake City, was held in what was then known as Cleveland’s Opera House. This building which was several blocks from the burnt courthouse of 1874 (which stood at what is now the corner of the east side of Marion St, and the south side of East Franklin St.) was situated at the corner of what is now the east side of Marion St. and the north side of Madison St. was the scene of the trial for the murder by one Paxton of one Bethea. The circumstances of the case are not available, but Paxton was acquitted.
Another murder case was also held here but it had nothing to do with any of the residents of Columbia County. This was a case that had been transferred to this district which was then known as the Columbia Circuit District. The man in question whose name was Stern lived at Dead Man’s Bay in Dixie
The Courthouse of Columbia (cont’d)
2
County, or what is now Dixie County, killed a man (name unknown ) in Lafayette County, and owing to the feeling there, it was thought advisable to transfer the case to a county where there was less danger of prejudice. This Stern was also acquitted.
Sometimes when the docket was small, and the weather favorable, court was also held in the open in what is now Olustee Park.
Toward the end of 1876 a small courthouse built of logs was erected on the north west corner of what is now Olustee Park. This building consisted of two rooms with a porch and veranda. Later an open well was dug and a watering trough was built on the north side of the building, facing what is now Madison St.,
At this time the Clerk of the Court worked and kept his records in a building where the Catholic Church now stands, at a corner on west side of N. Columbia St, and north side of Orange St but though the building was burnt, the records were saved, and the Clerk moved to another building hired by the County, to carry on business.
But in time, approximately four years later, the courthouse was found to be too small and another log building was erected, this time on what is now the South west corner of Olustee Park, and it was made large enough to give room to the Sheriff’s Office and the Clerk of the Court, but it was a poorly built structure, and in 1882 it leaked so badly when Judge Bryson came to hold the spring term of the Circuit Court, that the honorable Judge was very indignant, and refused to hold court, but instead he issued an order to the County Commissioners to build another courthouse by the next term of court, or to show cause why they did not build one, or be held in contempt of court!
The honorable Judge had his new courthouse by the fall term of 1882, it was built in the center of the Park (Olustee) on the site of the present bandstand. Later, an addition was made to this building in order to house a small water plant and a cypress vat. The water plant was
The Courthouses of Columbia County (Cont’d)
3
operated by hand and the County prisoners were used for this purpose.
As the county grew is [sic] population and county pride, it was decided to erect a courthouse worthy of its citizens, so in 1901 the present courthouse was built, and the former courthouse, which was a frame building was sold to Mr. L. W. Johnson of Lake City, who had the building cut in two, and carried intact to a couple of lots on West De Soto St. Mr Johnson remodelled the two parts, and lives in one of the halves of the old court house, at this date, (June 28th 1937) while the other half beside it, is rented.
The present courthouse is a brick building, rectangular in shape the roof being surmounted by a clock tower. It faces on north Hernando St. and the rear of the building looks out on a picturesque lake around which is a concrete driveway lined with palms.
It was built during the regime of the following County Commissioners:
R. T. Boozer (Chairman)
T. W. Getzen
A. R. Rumph
G. Smithson
F. W. Smith.
Frank P. Milburn of Columbia S. C. was the architect. Henry W. Otis, of Kingston N.Y. the contractor. The cost of the building was $35,000.
----------------------
These fact[s] have been compiled from the minutes of the County Commissioners in the vault of the Clerk of the Circuit court, and from the information re-received [sic] from old residents of the County, and younger residents who are students of the history of Florida in general and Columbia County in particular.
The present Courthouse houses the following departments of the County governing body:
The Clerk of the Circuit Court and the County Judge on the first floor on the west side of the courthouse.
The Tax Collector, Tax Assessor, Sheriff and Justice of Peace for the 10th district, also the meeting room of the County Commissioners, on the East side of the building.
On the 2nd floor are the following: The Office of County Supt. of Pub. Instruction, on the N.W[.] corner, and the Supervisor of Registration at the S.W. corner. The other rooms are for use during the session for the Circuit Court ri2:-
The Courtroom with a balcony, witnesses room, Consultation, Prisoners and Judge and Grand Jury rooms. The witnesses room is used by the Supv. of Registration at the present Time.
THE NAMES OF PERSONS WHO HAVE FURNISHED INFORMATION OF THE COURTHOUSES OF COLUMBIA COUNTY.
Mr John Cline, De Soto St. Lake City. Mr Cline is nearly 88 years of age. His intellect is keen and clear and he receives a pension because of the fact that after the battle of Olustee, his mother helped care for the wounded soldiers and he as a boy, was kept busy fetching water for the use of the surgeons and for the soldiers to drink.
Judge W. Gillen, Lake City, Fla.,. [sic] The Judge is keen on the history of the county, much of which he absorbed from Judge Ives with whom he was very friendly, and Judge Ives was a confederate soldier who retained his memory until his death at the age of 92, some five years ago. Judge Gillen has served as county sheriff, city mayor, and county judge. He is still engaged in the practice of law. He is in his early seventies,
Mr [J. B.] Hodges, Marion St. Lake City. Mr Hodges is an ardent student of history and has indulged in a great deal of research in the history of the county. He has obtained many facts from exploring the old cemeteries of the county and then by writing relatives still living whose addresses he somehow finds, if they live in another part of the state or country, he gets some very valuable information. Mr Hodges has held the office of State Senator. His is about 65 years old.
Mr L. W. Johnson, West De Soto St., Lake City. Mr Johnson who is 81 years young, could furnish direct information on the courthouse prior to the present one, for it was he who bought it, upon completion of the present building. He is the owner of the largest machine shop in the county and has several other business interests, and is still very active.
Chicago Manual of Style
Works Progress Administration, Historical Records Survey. The Courthouses of Columbia County, Fla. 1939 (circa). State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory. <https://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/321090>, accessed 3 December 2024.
MLA
Works Progress Administration, Historical Records Survey. The Courthouses of Columbia County, Fla. 1939 (circa). State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.<https://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/321090>
AP Style Photo Citation
(State Archives of Florida/Works Progress Administration)