Story and photos by Audrey Kletscher Helbling
When I consider historically-significant buildings in Faribault, I think first of the downtown historic district brimming with limestone and brick buildings constructed in the late 1800s. Or I think of the Cathedral of Our Merciful Saviour or Buckham Memorial Library or the aged structures on the campus of Shattuck-St. Mary’s School. But another building deserves attention—the Rice County Courthouse.
Rice County Courthouse from the north side full view.
Photo: Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Set on a hill overlooking Minnesota State Highway 60/Fourth Street, this imposing center of county government is an Art Deco delight designed by noted St. Cloud architect Nairne Fisher.
Rice County Courthouse, architectural details
Photo: Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Constructed of Faribault stone between 1932-1934, the courthouse features the Art Deco Classic Moderne style, distinguished by symmetry. From a distance, the structure appears balanced, streamlined, perhaps even rather plain. But up close, exterior details reveal the thought that went into creating an architecturally-notable building worthy of study and placement on the National Register of Historic Places.
Rice County Courthouse, south side full view
Photo: Audrey Kletscher Helbling
The choice of Faribault stone, the metalwork, the stone relief carvings and more—all add to the exterior visual appeal of this 134-by-98-foot courthouse built for $200,000. It is Rice County’s third courthouse, replacing a more traditional 1874 mammoth brick building destroyed by fire in 1931. Originally, county government was housed in an unassuming small brick building constructed in 1858.
Rice County Courthouse, corner detail
Photo: Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Construction of the Art Deco courthouse didn’t come without controversy. A county resident sought to keep the two wings of the 1874 building untouched by fire and to rebuild with that base. But, in the end, through legal proceedings, the County Board of Commissioners got judicial approval to proceed with completely new construction.
Rice County Courthouse, metalwork _ reflection
Photo: Audrey Kletscher Helbling
The 1930s courthouse differed substantially from the traditional mansard roof and elongated arched windows style of the 1874 building. Each reflected its period of design. And each reflected a sense of power, as government structures often do.
Rice County Courthouse, sundial
Photo: Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Like its predecessor, the current courthouse incorporates time into its design with a traditional clock on the north side and a sundial above the southern entrance. The unique vertical direct sundial was a gift from the estate of Charles Nehmiah Sayles, an attorney in Rice County who died in 1963. Architect William Broderson designed the Art Deco style timepiece made by local craftsman Kurt Kowatsch.
Rice County Courthouse, eagle relief sculpture
Photo: Audrey Kletscher Helbling
To either side of the sundial and elsewhere, stone relief carvings add visual interest and honor civic virtue, industry and the area’s agricultural base.
Rice County Courthouse, Civil War soldier
Photo: Audrey Kletscher Helbling
One more piece of exterior art is worth noting. A sculpture of a foot solider in the Grand Army of the Republic stands next to the courthouse, which today is part of an expanded Rice County Veterans Memorial. Originally tagged as the Rice County Soldiers’ Monument, the sculpture was crafted from Vermont marble by local stonecutters at McCarthy Marble Works in 1914.
Rice County Courthouse
Photo: Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Truly this courthouse, which I bypass multiple times weekly, sometimes daily, is worth a closer look for anyone who appreciates art, architecture and history.
Sources:
Courthouses of Minnesota—photography by Doug Ohman and text by Mary Logue published 2006 by Minnesota Historical Society Press
A Guide to the Architecture of Minnesota by David Gebhard & Tom Martinson published 1977 by the University of Minnesota
The First 100 Years…The Minnesota State Bar Association published by North Central Publishing Company 1983
Minnesota Courthouses—Watercolors of Historic Structures by Victor C. Gilbertson, FAIA, published by Galde Press, Inc. 2005
Rice County, Minnesota website
