Courthouse celebrates century
Staff reporter
As local dignitaries, past elected officials, and current employees stood on the front lawn of the courthouse Friday morning, the atmosphere was of reverence and optimism.
One hundred years is a significant milestone for humans and buildings.
Construction of Marion County Courthouse began in 1906 and was completed in 1907. The limestone building has been through it all.
Floods and a tornado would be no match for the stately symbol of justice, equality, and service.
Harold Jost, county commissioner from 1979 to 1986, said he had always admired the courthouse and was proud of it.
Former county clerk Marquetta Eilerts recalled the changes in the 27 years she was an employee and county clerk.
"It was an industrial revolution," Eilerts said about the introduction of computers.
"We used to type, type, type tax notices," she said.
Eilerts also noted many "firsts" under her watch — the establishment of a county ambulance service, elderly and aging services, and 911 access.
Judges would allow juveniles who had scrapes with the law to assist Eilerts and her employees in cleaning and rearranging the attic.
"Cemetery records took on a life of their own," Eilerts said, She accompanied numerous volunteers in walking through cemeteries within the county to update records.
She considers the completion of the cemetery records as one of her notable accomplishments.
"I don't know if we had bats in our belfries but we had birds in our chimneys," she said, and shared experiences of capturing and removing the pesky fowls.
Former commissioner Howard Collett read the builder's creed and noted this building was not built on the cheap.
"Not only was it built well, but it has been maintained well," he said.
Collett's challenge to the county was not so much one made of stone and mortar but building the future of the county by working together.
Current commissioners Dan Holub, Bob Hein, and Randy Dallke also expressed their good wishes for the courthouse and the county.
Holub also read a letter from Governor Kathleen Sebelius which included her "best wishes for another century of success and growth in Marion County."
Tours were provided and included information about the courthouse.
As a tribute to this milestone, Marion Kiwanis Club selected the courthouse's century milestone as the theme for this year's Old Settlers' Day celebration.
The courthouse is 100 feet by 80 feet. The clock tower rises 40 feet above the roof level and is 100 feet in total height.
The E. Howard Clock Company of Boston, installed the clock tower in 1908. The clock is wound once a week. The pendulum is nine feet long and in enclosed in a wooden box that hangs directly below the clock mechanism. The clock weighs 1,200 pounds. Each of the clock faces is seven feet tall, made of cast iron, and weighs 200 pounds.
In 1997, the clock tower was repaired, wooden supports were rebuilt, mortar was redone, and the clock faces were sandblasted and painted.
The cornerstone, located on the northwest corner of the building, reportedly holds a sealed copper box which contains papers and artifacts accumulated by the county clerk at that time.
Marion County Clerk Carol Maggard said she wishes there was a way to retrieve that box and information, but does not plan to pursue.
The clerk is considering a time capsule that would contain artifacts of 2006 that could be opened in a set time frame but would not necessarily be embedded in the building.
A tornado in 1970 left a 30'x20' hole in the northeast corner of the second floor roof. Several rocks from the clock tower fell on the hallways, breaking the tile. To this day, the broken tile serves as a reminder of that storm.
Three original coal-burning fireplaces remain within the building.
They are located in the commission room, clerk's office, and treasurer's office.
