Logan
County was formed by an act of the Colorado State Legislature on February 25,
1887. The County was formerly a
part of Weld County and citizens from the eastern part of the state were
required to travel to Greeley, the county seat to conduct official business.
Citizens petitioned the state legislature to form the new county.
Later on, Philips and Sedgwick Counties were created from the original
Logan County.
Serving
on the first Board of County Commissioners for Logan County were: Henry
Schneider, D. B. Morgan and Jacob Furry. Governor
Alba B. Adams appointed the men and also appointed W. S. Hadfield several months
later to fill a vacancy created by the death of Commissioner Furry.
Other officials appointed to oversee the new Logan County were W. F.
Kiester, Clerk and Recorder; M. H. Smith, Treasurer; H. T. Sutherland, County
Assessor; John Tobin, Sheriff; T. L. Watson, County Judge; Dr. David Beach,
Coroner; J. J. Cheairs, Surveyor; and Oscar Trego, County Superintendent of
Schools.
Construction
on the present Logan County Courthouse was begun in 1908.
J. J. Huddard of Denver was retained as architect to design the new
Courthouse. Construction was
completed in 1910 by Sterling contractors Kaepernik and Jenkins.
The
white-pressed brick and white stone trimming cost approximately $100,000 and on
Saturday, March 5, 1910 it is estimated that 6,000 persons participated in the
formal opening ceremony for the eloquent new structure.
Emerson Warren, C. M. Morris and J. O. Shay were Commissioners at the
time of the Courthouse construction.
Dedication
ceremonies were held on March 5, 1910 with approximately 6,000 persons in
attendance.
Photographs
of earlier days are hanging in the first floor rotunda and also in the
Commissioners Office.
Feel free
to
stop by, look
around and enjoy one of Colorado’s most beautiful Courthouses.
1983 Courthouse
Restoration
In 1983 the Board of County Commissioners negotiated the restoration of the
Courthouse Rotunda which was highlighted by:
°Restoration of rotunda columns, decorative ceiling trim painting, woodwork, walls and floors.
Every effort was made to utilize original colors and painting techniques.
°Original Fire Hoses were recovered
and restored and hang in the rotunda of each floor. They are now non-operative and are for decorative purposes
only.
°Replacement of the Stained Glass in the
ceiling of the rotunda and installation of backlighting. The original
stained glass was reportedly broken by a roll of falling roofing material
during repair work many years ago.
°Placement of Eugene Carara Oil Paintings in the
basement rotunda area. Individual paintings were purchased by private citizens and then donated to Logan County to
keep the work together. Each painting is symbolic of an historically important event or location to the
people of northeastern Colorado.
°Duplication and placement of the original courthouse blueprints in the first and second
floor rotunda areas.
Donations in the amount of $17,600 aided in the restoration and a Sterling Founder’s Day
celebration was held in the rotunda area of the Courthouse on November 10, 1984. Logan
County was recently awarded an Energy Impact Assistance Grant from the
Colorado Department of Local Affairs in the amount of $250,000 which will
address installation of an ADA elevator into the Courthouse.
For
further reading on Logan County History, recommended are: “A History of Logan
County” by Emma Rose Conklin and “The Logan County Ledger” by Dale “Bud”
Wells.
| Paintings
in the basement rotunda area by Eugene Carara are symbolic of an historically
important event or location to the people of northeastern Colorado.
|
|
| Survival on the Colorado Prairie -
depicts the hardship and suffering of the Cheyenne people who lived in this area
during some of the severe winters of the 1860's. Once abundant bison was disappearing which made survival even
more difficult. Here, the viewer is exposed to the chill of the northwest
wind that must have cut the skin of the Indian women as they went to work “gutting”
the fallen beast. The Remington
style and pieces of his work are borrowed for this tribute.
|
|
| The Return of Sarah Morris -
This painting depicts more than just the return of Sarah Morris.
The contradiction of man’s inability to relate to other societies has
been evident throughout history. The
exposure of the American Indian to the white man is a perfect example of this
dilemma. Each hid his hatred for
the other during moments of peace. The
small group of Indians was purposely separated from the rest of the painting to
reveal their dignity, swapped horses with the Cheyenne in order to rescue Sarah.
They in turn bartered for coffee, beans, etc.
Sarah is portrayed in severe physical and mental state.
The paradox of hatred and love are repeated throughout the painting.
|
 |
|
Fort Wicked - This painting
depicts the gallant stand against the Cheyenne war parties by Holon Godfrey, his
family, and friends. Holon Godfrey,
his family, and friends. Holon, a
brave and adventurous man, believed he could hold out against all odds except
fire. The painting is deliberately
painted in a primitive style in order to reveal many objects. It is also a very busy painting in order to help convey
excitement and panic. Worry and
anger are shown in Holon’s face; weariness in the face of Matilda; and fear in
the face of Cecilia (the girl in the window).
After three days of battle, the Cheyenne finally ceased their attack.
|
 |
|
The Battle of Summit Springs -
This painting depicts how one can sacrifice his life to save others.
During a storm-threatening afternoon, this young lad stampeded this heard
of horses into Chief Tall Bull’s camp in order to warn them of the attacking
Pawnee Scouts. The young boy was
killed, along with many other Cheyenne that day, but because of his heroics,
many survived. It is difficult to
imagine what went through his mind before making his decision to stampede the
herd, but one thing is clear, It was a split-second decision from one so young.
Life is so precious, especially young life.
|
 |
| Sterling - Queen City of the High Plains
- This painting depicts not only the City of Sterling today, but reveals some
hidden history in its development. The vastness of the high plains and the surprising height of
some summer cloud formations gently cradles the city lights.
Soon daylight will end and the cool evening breezes will usher in another
quiet night on the plains.
|
 |
|
Riding out the Blizzard
- The
painting depicts the hardships endured by the cattlemen of Northeast Colorado.
Even though the cattlemen were subjected to many difficulties, the sudden
appearance of a blinding blizzard was probably the one threat that revealed the
hopelessness of facing the forces of nature.
For one who has never experienced this phenomenon, the exposure is truly
unbelievable. Not only are you subjected to the numbness of the cold, but
the whiteness and the loss of direction can create a state of vertigo.
|
 |
| Cattleman: Northeast Colorado - This
painting depicts the early cattle country of Northeastern Colorado.
The beauty of an August evening is created here by revealing the complex
skies and a vast pasture land panorama. The
majestic Pawnee Buttes are revealed like giant ships sailing across the waves of
cool violet canyons in the background. The
setting sun softly warns the cattlemen of the end of another Northeast Colorado
day. However, experience has taught
them that these days are drawing to a close and the severe bite of the winter
wind is just around the corner.
|
 |
|
The Massacre at Sand Creek -
This painting depicts the anticipation of things to come before the attack
begins. The sun is just rising and
the camp fires are cold. Shock and
frustration are evident. The
elderly chief in the foreground is White Antelope, who after realizing the
futility of stopping this outrage, decides to fold his arms and chant, “It’s
a good day to die.” He is killed
along with many women and children. Chief
Black Kettle tried to raise the American flag and a flag of truce, but to no
avail. This day of infamy started
off the famous Indian wars along the South Platte River from Julesburg to
Denver.
|
 |
|
Beware the Earthman - This
painting depicts the early farmers’ futile attempts to raise a crop against
all the odds that were against him along the South Platte River.
But, beyond that, it also exposes the early confrontation of the Cheyenne
Warrior with the peaceful farmer. The
warriors were informed many years earlier that they need not fear the mountain-man, the cattleman, or even the soldier. That the man who would eventually take their beloved land
from them would be the Earthman - the Farmer.
|
 |
| The American Indian - This
painting depicts the Indian Societies of North America.
No particular tribe is hereby intended, but this is a tribute to all
those who inhabited these lands before the white man invasion.
The Indian believed that he was a part of nature, just as were the earth,
sky, rock, air and water; and he believed they were all brothers.
This painting has many contrasting forces, such as the soft blends of the
sky and background in comparison to the sharper lines of the subject. For no matter how much the Indian believed in nature, he had
a difficult struggle to exist in it.
|
 |
|
The Design of the County Seal is based on the wagon wheel which helped open the west.
The words “Logan County” are placed at the hub of the wheel
suggesting Logan County is an important county in our state.
The design is right side up from any angle instead of being viewed from
just one point (as with a wheel at rest would be) signifying a rolling onward
progress of our community. The
symbols pictured are elements important to our past, present and future.
|
 |
|
