Last month we started the story of moving from one courthouse to another, 1890s-style. This is a continuation of that story, again, taking from the Commissioners’ records. Links to more narrative-style stories can be found at the bottom of this page.
The Clock. Oh, The Drama.
October 2, 1895
This agreement made and entered into this the Second day of October 1895 by and between the E. Howard Watch and Clock Company party of the first part and the Board of County Commissioners of Pulaski County at Winamac, Ind., party of the second part.
Witnesseth; That the party of the first part for and in consideration of the sum of Seven Hundred and sixty five ($765.00) dollars lawful money of the United States of America to be paid as hereinafter provided hereby agrees to furnish and place in position in the tower of the Court House at Winamac, Ind. in complete running order a No 1 Hour Striking Tower Clock arranged with Four (4) sectional Glass and Iron Dials and One-one thousand pound Bell.
This clock shall be made in the best possible manner. The wheels being made of hard hammered brass; the teeth being accurately cut; arbors and pinions of the best open-hearth steel; frame and supports of Cast Iron; the escarpment will be the Grahams Dead beat Escapement and it will have a simple device for disconnecting the dial works from the main clock so that the hands can readily be set from the inside of the tower.
The party of the first part does hereby guarantee that the clock so furnished and set up will run without a variation of more than sixty (60) seconds per month. This guarantee being made upon the express condition that the party of the second part will care for and regulate the clock from time to time in a skillful and proper manner.
The party of the first part further guarantees that the clock will be free from all original defects for five (5) years. It is understood that the party of the second part agrees at its own expense to do all carpenter and other work necessary to prepare the tower to receive the clock unless otherwise specified.
The party of the second part further agrees to pay the said sum of Seven hundred & sixty five dollars ($765.00) to the party of the first part thirty (30) days after the above mentioned clock is set up and running.
In testimony Whereof the parties above mentioned have hereunto set their hands the day and year first above written in duplicate.
N M. Hiland Frederick Maibauer R. B. Minton
A Million Little Things
October 10, 1895
Ordered by the Board that John G. Boyles be allowed the sum of Two Hundred fifty one and 70/100 dollars for grading the Court House yard.
November 6, 1895
Ordered by the Board that John Hoadly be allowed three Hundred dollars on sidewalk contract.
November 7, 1895 – Courthouse Furniture
Ordered by the Board that The M. Ohener’s (sp?) Sons Co. be allowed Three Thousand and fifty six dollars for furniture for Court House.
November 8, 1895 – Stone Fence and
Ordered by the Board that John Hoadly be allowed One hundred & ninety three dollars on contract for stone fence and part sidewalk contract. Twenty five dollars being retained until stone walks are fully completed.
Ordered that Stevens & Bedwards be allowed Twenty &50/100 dollars for plumbing supplies.
Ordered by the Board that Stevens & Bedwards be allowed Twelve hundred Eighty two & 26/100 dollars as per bill of claims filed.
November 9, 1895
Ordered by the Board that John Kruger, Jr. be allowed fifty cents for moving furniture.
Ordered by the Board the E. Heniser be allowed fifty cents for moving furniture.
December 4, 1895
Ordered that S. Pearson be allowed thirty dollars Rent for Sheriff’s residents.
Ordered that Mrs. John T. Holsinger be allowed Ten dollars for Court Room rent.
December 6, 1895
Ordered that Henry Seidel be allowed $2.50 for rent of lot on which wood from Court House yard was placed.
January 7, 1896 – The Clock and the Vaults
Ordered by the Board that The E. Howard Watch & Clock Company be allowed Seven Hundred & Sixty five dollars for Tower Clock.
Ordered that the Fenton Metallic Company be allowed Thirty three hundred Ninety one & 65/100 dollars for metallic vault furniture.
Ordered that Chas. Barker be allowed six dollars for furniture.
January 28, 1896 – Gibson Sues
This agreement made and entered into this 28th day of Jan. 1896 by and between the Board of Commissioners of Pulaski County and William Spangler. Witnesseth; that said Commissioners agree to pay William Spangler two hundred dollars for services to be rendered by said Spangler in defending the suit now pending against said County by Jordan E. Gibson for balance claimed to be due him on contract for building the Court House in said county and said Spangler agrees to give his services in said cause for said sum of $200; this is to be full for all services rendered by him in said cause through all the Courts and until the same is finally terminated.
Signed: Frederick Maibauer, R. B. Minton, Frederick Haschel, William Spangler
March 3, 1896
Ordered that Mac Carper be allowed the sum of Seven and 30/100 dollars for material furnished the Janitor.
Ordered that John Shill be allowed the sum of One and 85/100 dollars for supplies furnished the Janitor.
Ordered that Keller and Sable be allowed the sum of One and 50/100 dollars for supplies furnished the Janitor.
Ordered that S. Pearson be allowed the sum of Thirty dollars for rent for Sheriff’s residence.
Ordered that George Frain be allowed the sum of Two and 50/100 dollars for work done on the steam pump.
April 29, 1896
Ordered that J. G. Boyles be allowed One Hundred & fifty four &47/100 dollars for Court House yard.
June 2, 1896
Ordered that Wm. Richardson be allowed Eighty six dollars for grading Court House Yard.
June 3, 1896
Ordered that John Fradenburg be allowed .40/100 dollars for work on Court House sewer.
July 16, 1896
Ordered that the Board employ hands to take up the mouth of the Court House sewer.
Ordered that John Kelly be allowed Two & 40/100 dollars for work on Court House sewer.
August 7, 1896 – Cement Walk Replaces Stone
Ordered that G. A. Stipp be awarded the contract for cement walk at Court House entrance for the sum of 19&1/2 cents per sq. ft. according to plans on file in the Auditor’s office.
Be it ordered by the Board that whereas the stone comprising the walks to the north entrance of the Court House and the circle walks to the front entrance to the basement in the Court House square of the value of ten (10) cents per cubic foot are in the judgement of the Board no longer required or needed for County purposes, it is therefore ordered that said stone be sold at public auction to the highest bidder for cash in hand. Said property will not be sold for less than the value above mentioned.
September 9, 1896
Ordered that the proposition of Nicholas Beckman to do Janitor service in the Pulaski County Court House for five hundred dollars for the term of one year according to contract that may be agreed upon by the Board. Be and the same is hereby accepted.
September 15, 1896
Ordered by the Board that David Gill be given the contract for constructing a cement walk along the Court House lot on Meridian Street. The material in said walk to be apportioned as follows, To Wit: Top to be 1/3 cement and 2/3 sand. Bottom part to be 1/3 cement and 6/7 sand. And the price for the construction of said walk to be .14 cents per foot. The same to be completed by the 1st day of October, 1896.
November 20, 1896 – Another Attorney for the Gibson Case
Ordered by the Board that Geo. Burson be and he is hereby employed to assist in the defense case of Gibson vs the Board of Commissioners now pending in the White County Circuit Court for and in consideration of such employment he is to receive the sum of Two Hundred & fifty dollars. This employment is to contain and to include all his charges for services in said Circuit Court as well as the Supreme Court of the State should said case be appealed by either party and in addition the said Burson is to be paid his actual boarding expenses taking depositions in the case.
December 16, 1906 – The Cost of the Trial
Ordered that George Burson be allowed Two hundred seventy eight and 22/100 dollars Attys. fees on the Trial of Gibson vs Board of Commissioners of Pulaski County.
Ordered that Wm. Spangler be allowed Two hundred and seventy eight dollars Attys. fees in Case of Gibson vs Board of Commissioners, Pulaski County.
Ordered that John H. Weaver be allowed Nineteen dollars for services in the Court House Trial.
Ordered that Reynold & Sills be allowed One hundred and fifty dollars Attorneys fees in Case of Gibson vs Board of Commissioners.
Ordered that Wm. Buehrle be allowed Eight Hundred dollars to pay amount due J. E. Gibson in the case of Gibson v Board of Commissioners of Pulaski County.
Ordered that Howard Hagenbush be allowed Ten and 45/100 dollars; witness fees on the Court House Trial.
Ordered that R. B. Minton be allowed Eighty two and 30/100 dollars Commissioners Expenses in Trial of Gibson vs Board of Commissioners of Pulaski County.
Ordered that Joseph Riggs be allowed Four and 19/100 dollars for expense incurred by attending the Court House Trail in Monticello.
December 19, 1896 – Trial Costs Continued
Ordered that John C. Nye be allowed Twenty six and 85/100 dollars for expense in the Court House Case.
Ordered that John G. Boyles be allowed Twenty six and 16/100 dollars for expenses of attending the Court House Trail.
Ordered that the F. B. Hunnston (sp?), Clerk of White County be allowed Fifty seven and 50/100 dollars costs in Case of Gibson be Board of Commissioners of Pulaski County, Indiana
In Closing
Yes, we are finally finished with our Courthouse Story. But we have a final note. The Commissioners were never able to focus on “just one thing.” By March of 1897, the commissioners met at the county infirmary to inspect and to prepare to erect a new County Infirmary, the “poor farm,” eventually known as the County Home, or Pleasant View Rest Home.
And this story reminds us of how often we can learn from history. It does come around again.
If you would like some of this story in narrative form, go to this post from the Pulaski County Historical Society from November 2020: http://pulaskihistory.net/pulaski-county-courthouse-a-colorful-history/, or this newsletter from March 2019: https://pulaskihistory.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Newsletter-March-2019.pdf