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Source
State Library of Florida, WPA - Historical Records Survey, County Histories
Description
Brief history of courthouse construction in Dixie County, Florida transcribed from the County Commissioners Minutes by the Works Progress Administration's Historical Records Survey.
Date
ca. 1939
Format
Coverage
Corporate 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.
DIXIE COUNTY, FLORIDA
CREATION OF FIRST GOVERNMENT
ERECTION OF FIRST COURT HOUSE
-----------------------
CREATION OF FIRST GOVERNMENT:
Dixie County was created on April 25, 1921.
Chap. 8514, Acts 1921, Com. Gen. Laws of Florida.
The first official act was the meeting of the Board of County Commissioners at 11:15 A.M. on June 18, 1921.
ERECTION OF COURT HOUSE AND EARLY GOVERNMENT:
FROM COMMISSIONERS MINUTES, VOL. 1
July 4, 1921, Cross City, Florida
Petition received by Board of County Commissioners, signed by more than one-third qualified electors of county, calling for an election to locate county site of Dixie County. Page 7, Com. Min. 1.
For this purpose resolution was adopted that notice of said election be published, and that this election be held on August 31, 1921.
Page 8, Com. Min. 1.
August 1, 1921, Cross City, Florida
Resolution adopted that the old [post office] building, known as the N. N. Barber building, now being occupied as County Judge's office, be designated as the Grand Jury room for court session in Dixie County on August 8, 1921; and that the Baptist church building in Cross City be designated as the court room for court that convenes on August 8, 1921; and that the said quarters are only designated for the said term of Circuit Court and for no other term of said court and are only temporary. Page 12, Com. Min., 1.
September 5, 1921, Cross City, Florida
Returns from Special Election held August 31, 1921, were examined in open session of the Board. It was found that Cross City and Eugene should run through a second election. Therefore, without a petition, the Board proceeded to call a second election to be held for the purpose of locating the county site of Dixie County, on September 29, 1921.
Page 18 and 19, Com. Min. 1.
October 3, 1921, Cross City, Florida
Board of County Commissioners canvassed returns of election held on September 29, 1921, from which it was determined that Cross City received 346 votes and Eugene received 249 votes, being a majority of 97 votes in favor of Cross City. Therefore, resolution was adopted that Cross City be declared the county site of Dixie County, Florida.
Page 23, Com. Min., 1.
February 6, 1922, Cross City, Florida
Title
Creation of First Government, Dixie County
Subject
Cities and towns--History
Florida--Dixie County
County government
Works Progress Administration, Historical Records Survey
Description
Brief history of courthouse construction in Dixie County, Florida transcribed from the County Commissioners Minutes 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)
Format
local histories
Language
eng-US
Type
Text
Identifier
wpa_county_history_dixie_02
Coverage
Depression Era Florida (1926-1939)
Thumbnail
/fpc/memory/omeka_images/thumbnails/wpa_county_histories.jpg
Geographic Term
Dixie County (Fla.)
Cross City (Fla.)
Eugene (Fla.)
Display Date
ca. 1939
ImageID
wpa_county_history_dixie_02_01
wpa_county_history_dixie_02_02
wpa_county_history_dixie_02_03
wpa_county_history_dixie_02_04
wpa_county_history_dixie_02_05
wpa_county_history_dixie_02_06
Subject - Corporate
Dixie County State Bank
Schell Sasse Manufacturing Company
Subject - Person
Barber, E. M.
Barber, N. N.
Livingston, George W.
Welch, S. J.
McKinney, J. M.
Transcript
DIXIE COUNTY, FLORIDA
CREATION OF FIRST GOVERNMENT
ERECTION OF FIRST COURT HOUSE
-----------------------
CREATION OF FIRST GOVERNMENT:
Dixie County was created on April 25, 1921.
Chap. 8514, Acts 1921, Com. Gen. Laws of Florida.
The first official act was the meeting of the Board of County Commissioners at 11:15 A.M. on June 18, 1921.
ERECTION OF COURT HOUSE AND EARLY GOVERNMENT:
FROM COMMISSIONERS MINUTES, VOL. 1
July 4, 1921, Cross City, Florida
Petition received by Board of County Commissioners, signed by more than one-third qualified electors of county, calling for an election to locate county site of Dixie County. Page 7, Com. Min. 1.
For this purpose resolution was adopted that notice of said election be published, and that this election be held on August 31, 1921.
Page 8, Com. Min. 1.
August 1, 1921, Cross City, Florida
Resolution adopted that the old [post office] building, known as the N. N. Barber building, now being occupied as County Judge's office, be designated as the Grand Jury room for court session in Dixie County on August 8, 1921; and that the Baptist church building in Cross City be designated as the court room for court that convenes on August 8, 1921; and that the said quarters are only designated for the said term of Circuit Court and for no other term of said court and are only temporary. Page 12, Com. Min., 1.
September 5, 1921, Cross City, Florida
Returns from Special Election held August 31, 1921, were examined in open session of the Board. It was found that Cross City and Eugene should run through a second election. Therefore, without a petition, the Board proceeded to call a second election to be held for the purpose of locating the county site of Dixie County, on September 29, 1921.
Page 18 and 19, Com. Min. 1.
October 3, 1921, Cross City, Florida
Board of County Commissioners canvassed returns of election held on September 29, 1921, from which it was determined that Cross City received 346 votes and Eugene received 249 votes, being a majority of 97 votes in favor of Cross City. Therefore, resolution was adopted that Cross City be declared the county site of Dixie County, Florida.
Page 23, Com. Min., 1.
February 6, 1922, Cross City, Florida
DIXIE COUNTY, FLORIDA
-2- (Erection of Court House and early government, continued)
Resolution was passed by the Board designating the Cross City Baptist Church as the court room for the Spring Term of Court, 1922.
Page 49, Com. Min., 1.
August 7, 1922, Cross City, Florida.
Motion adopted that the garage building of W. P. Chavous be temporarily rented by the Board for the purpose of holding there in the Fall term of the Circuit Court of Dixie County, for 1922; and for the use of the said building the Board agrees to pay to W. P. Chavous the sum of $25.00; the house to be furnished with seats, etc., for accommodation of the Court. Pages 82 and 83, Com; Min. 1.
January 13, 1923, Cross City, Florida
The following resolution was adopted; That the Board ask permission of Hon. Ernest Amos, Comptroller of Florida, to use the sum of $299.00 out of the General Fund of Dixie County, Florida, for the purpose of constructing a wooden Court House at Cross City, Florida........that the warrant $299.00 be drawn, and attached to contract and resolution, and that same be placed in the vault and held by the Clerk of the Board awaiting approval of the Comptroller as to such action being within the law........"And if the Comptroller renders to our Clerk orders stating that our actions will be sustained by him, that the Clerk at once deliver warrant to said E. M. Barber, and if the Comptroller renders opinion that we cannot proceed, that the Clerk at once mark warrant and all the above resolutions nul and void." Page 119, Com. Min., 1.
February 5, 1923, Cross City, Florida
Motion was carried that the building contracted to E. M. Barber and built on Court House square in Cross City, be adopted as the Court House in and for Dixie County, Florida, and that the Clerk be authorized to deliver the bond of the said contractor back to him. The Board also designated the New Court House building as the place for holding the Spring term of the Circuit Court for Dixie County.
Page 121, Com. Min., 1.
June 11, 1923, Cross City, Florida
Resolution was adopted that Block Numbered ten (10), now on file in the office of the Circuit Court of Dixie County, which said block has been deeded to [Dixie] County, Florida, by N. N. Barber and Wife, be, and the same is hereby accepted by the Board of County Commissioners of Dixie County, Florida, as the permanent location for the Court House for Dixie County, Florida. Page 141,
Com. Min., 1.
June 11, 1923, Cross City, Florida.
Resolution was also passed that the Board should publish notice for thirty days that action would be taken at their next meeting on August 6, 1923, upon the question of erecting a Court House for Dixie County. Page 141, Com. Min., 1.
November 5, 1923, Cross City, Florida
Motion was adopted by the Board to place an order for the furniture for Court Room of New Court House, the same to cost approximately $1845.65. Page 174, Com. Min., 1.
DIXIE COUNTY, FLORIDA
-3- (Erection of Court House and early government, continued)
September 3, 1923, Cross City, Florida.
Resolution was adopted that the Board should at once proceed to erect and build a Court House at Cross City, Florida. Page 151, Com. Min., 1.
August 7, 1923, Cross City, Florida
Resolution was passed that Mr. G. W. Livingston of Newberry, Florida, be awarded contract for building a County Court House for Dixie County, as per plans and specifications prepared by S. J. Welch, Architect, and accepted by the Board, for the sum of $37,000. Page 152, Com. Min., 1.
Motion was carried that the Board pay S. J.Welch, architect, the sum of $500 as payment on architectural work for Court House. Page 152, Com. Min., 1.
The Chairman then declared the Board in order for bids on $35,000 worth of Dixie County Court House and Jail Coupon warrants. Page 151, Com. Min., 1.
September 3, 1923, Cross City, Florida
Resolution was passed to issue and sell Thirty-five ($35,000.00) Thousand Dollars worth of interest-bearing time warrants, for the purpose of building a Court House......and said warrants to become due and payable.
Page 153, Com. Min. 1.
The Board adopted a resolution accepting the bid and completing the sale of said time warrants in the amount of $35,000 to the Dixie County State Bank.
Page 162, Com. Min., 1.
Resolutions were passed by the Board that the sum of $521 for material delivered by the Schoole Sasse Manufacturing Company, be paid, and balance of Schell Sasse Manufacturing Co. bill to be paid upon delivery of material and charged to the contract of G. W. Livingston; and that the Board pay Mr. G. W. Livingston the sum of $8,920.83 for material and labor for Court House.
Page 169, Com. Min., 1.
Mr. G. W. Livingston, contractor for the Court House, then filed his labor and material estimate certificate made and signed by S. J. Welch, Architect for said building, said estimate, less 10 per cent retainted, being $8,325.00, which certificate the Board ordered the Chairman and Clerk to endorse.
Page 162, Com. Min., 1.
October 1, 1923, Cross City, Florida
The Board ordered the Clerk and Chairman to advertise for bids for furniture for Court House and Jail for Dixie County. Page 167, Com. Min., 1.
October 3, 1923, Cross City, Florida
Resolution was passed that Interest-bearing coupon warrants and the interest coupons thereto attached, on the Common or Court House Fund, be signed by the Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners. Page 169, Com. Min., 1.
The Board ordered the Clerk and Chairman to have the new Court House building insured. Page 169, Com. Min., 1.
DIXIE COUNTY, FLORIDA
-4- (Erection of Court House and early government, continued)
The following bills were approved by the Board on October 3, 1923, and ordered paid from the Court House fund:
53. Geo. W. Livingston
Payment on contract for Court House, $8910.83
54. Schell Sasse Mfg. Co.
Payment for material for G. W. Livingston, 521.00
55. S. J. Welch, Architect
Payment as Architect, 1003.12
56. Dixie County State Bank
Payment formerly advanced on warrants, 8325.00
57. G. W. Livingston
Payment on jail, 3099.96
Page 172, Com. Min., 1.
November 5, 1923, Cross City, Florida
Motion was adopted by the Board to place an order for the furniture for Court Room of the new Court House, the same to cost approximately $1845.65
Motion was adopted that the Board approve the surety bond of G. W. Livingston, for Court House contract, in the sum of $15,000.00, with the Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland. Page 174, Com. Min., 1.
The following bill was ordered paid from Court House Fund:
58. G.W. Livingston
Payment on Court House contract, $7000.00
Page 176, Com. Min., 1.
November 26, 1923, Cross City, Florida
The following warrant was issued on the Court House fund:
61. Geo. W. Livingston
Payment on Court House contract, 1000.00
Page 179, Com. Min., 1.
December 3, 1923, Cross City, Florida
The following bills were ordered paid:
910. Dixie County State Bank, Insurance for Court House, $ 220.00
From Court House Fund-
62. Geo. W. Livingston
Plumbing material for Court House, $ 300.00
63. Geo. W. Livingston
Payment on Court House contract, $ 700.00
64. S. J. Welch, Architectural work on Court House, $500.00
Page 181, Com. Min., 1.
The Board accepted the estimate made by S. J. Welch for Geo. W. Livingston, on Court House work, amounting to $5,940.00.
Page 182, Com. Min., 1.
December 21, 1923, Cross City, Florida
The Board authorized G. W. Livingston, to put in septic tanks at Court House instead of cess pools, for the sum of $150.00
Page 185, Com. Min., 1.
December 21, 1923, Cross City, Florida
DIXIE COUNTY, FLORIDA
-5- (Erection of Court House and early government, continued)
The Board ordered the sum of $1,000.00 paid to G. W. Livingston on Court House contract. Page 185, Com. Min., 1.
January 23, 1924, Cross City, Florida
The Board accepted and approved the estimate of G. W. Livingston, Contractor, as made by S. J. Welch, Architect, on Court House work, amounting to $5,940.00, the said estimate being formerly approved and partially paid.
The Board ordered the Clerk to write S. J. Welch, Architect, to be present at the next regular meeting of the Board at 10.00 A.M.
Motion was adopted that the Board at once proceed to appeal the case of the Court House and Jail bond validation, from the lower courts to the Supreme Court of the State of Florida.
The Board extended the time for the completion of the Court House sixty days from the First Day of February, 1924. Page 196, Com. Min., 1.
February 5, 1924, Cross City, Florida
The Board ordered notice published for bids on the temporary Court House of Dixie County, said Court House to be offered for sale on the first Monday in March, 1924.........the Board reserving the right to hold said building until the new Court House be completed and accepted; the Board reserving the further right to reject any and all bids.
Page 199, Com. Min., 1.
Motion was carried that certain amounts on Court House work, which were not specified in first contract, be allowed. Page 199, Com. Min., 1.
Estimate of $4,671.00 from G. W. Livingston on Court House work was approved.
"Mr. Livingston then agreed to let the Board use the upstairs Court room of the new Court House for Circuit Court in FEBRUARY, 1924."
Page 200, Com. Min., 1.
March 3, 1924, Cross City, Florida
The Board sold to the highest and best bidder, viz., J. M. McKinney, the temporary Court House of Dixie County, Florida, for the sum of $155.00. Motion was carried that said building be turned over to J. M. McKinney upon payment of this sum and upon completion and occupancy of the New Court House. Page 201, Com. Min., 1.
April 7, 1924, Cross City, Florida
Motion was adopted that the Board let G. W. Livingston, Contractor take a judgment against Dixie County for the balance due him on the new Court House building. Page 205, Com. Min., 1.
April 7, 1924, Cross City, Florida
DIXIE COUNTY, FLORIDA
-6- (Erection of Court House and early government, continued)
Resolution adopted:
"WHEREAS, the Contractor of the Court House has completed the same according to contract, AND, WHEREAS the said Contractor is now ready to turn same over to the County,
AND,
WHEREAS the Architect has given his approval on said Court House, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of Dixie County, Florida, that they do this day receive and accept the said Court House." Page 206, Com. Min., 1.
April 7, 1924, Cross City, Florida
The Board approved the final estimate of the Architect on Court House, made to G. W. Livingston, in the sum of $6,825.10. Page 206, Com. Min., 1.
April 8, 1924, Cross City, Florida
Motion carried that the Board pay S. J. Welch, Architect, the sum of $426.00, as balance due on architectural work for Court House; the same to be paid from the General County Fund, and Mr. Welch agreeing to this as a final settlement on the Court House work. Page 213, Com. Min., 1.
May 5, 1924, Cross City, Florida
The Board employed Mrs. Jane Pope as janitor for Court House at $15 per month.
Page 218, Com. Min., 1.
May 17, 1924, Cross City, Florida
"This agreement made this 17th day of May, 1924, by and between the Board of County Commissioners of Dixie County, Florida, party of the first part, and G. W. Livingston, party of the second part;
The said party of the first part agrees that the said party of the second part shall and may take a [judgment] against the county for the sum of Twenty-One Thousand One Hundred Twenty-Six and 94/100 Dollars, as a complete balance due him on the building of the Court House and Jail in Dixie County, Florida; The said party of the second part agrees to assume and will pay the sum of Two Thousand Seven Hundred Thirty and 58/100 Dollars that the said County has assumed, and that the said County of Dixie has agreed to pay the Schelle-Sasse Manufacturing Company of Jacksonville, Florida.
It is further agreed by and between all the parties hereto that this is a complete settlement between them. Board of County Commissioners of
Dixie County, Florida
By W. T. Green, Chairman
Party of the first part.
George W. Livingston
Party of the second part."
July 7, 1924, Cross City, Florida
Motion carried that the warrant on the Court House sinking fund, in favor of G. W. Livingston, for the sum of $3,800.00, as part payment on Judgment against Dixie County and in favor of G. W. Livingston, be issued and paid.
Page 231, Com. Min., 1.
Chicago Manual of Style
Works Progress Administration, Historical Records Survey. Creation of First Government, Dixie County. 1939 (circa). State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory. <https://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/321099>, accessed 4 December 2024.
MLA
Works Progress Administration, Historical Records Survey. Creation of First Government, Dixie County. 1939 (circa). State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory. Accessed 4 Dec. 2024.<https://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/321099>
AP Style Photo Citation
(State Archives of Florida/Works Progress Administration)