Courthouse is 100 years old

As a 100-year-old building, one expects to hear creaks and cracks, but Boone County’s Courthouse employees know there is more to tell. They call him Gaylord, named by then custodian Brian Gustafson 33 years ago. Meet the resident ghost. Gaylord would often make an “appearance” in the evening, roaming the halls after the offices were closed and employees had gone home. Those working in the lower level Communications Center admitted to hearing doors slam, and toilets flushing and even saw elevator doors open, with no one there. Gaylord was even known to pull binders from a shelf and toss to the floor. The employee who had stopped in her office after hours thought it was a fluke the first time she encountered him. She replaced the binder and resumed working, when “boom” down it went again. She had no explanation other than Gaylord playing games with her.

Boone County Courthouse is celebrating its 100-year anniversary in May of this year with a cornerstone rededication, open house and reception. Just maybe Gaylord will make his presence known again for the visitors.

When the Courthouse was dedicated May 1, 1918, America had just entered World War I while Civil War veterans were in attendance at the celebration. Since that time, Boone County gained connections to US presidents, has farmers that now feed the nation, created a local business community that reaches across the world, and countless people who have proudly called Boone County home.

The pride in our home county is seen in the public courthouse built in Italian Renaissance architecture, showcasing granite from Vermont, Tennessee and Georgia, with Bedford limestone, marble terrazzo floors.

The Mason’s Grand Lodge of Iowa will rededicate the cornerstone laid at the courthouse May 1, 1918. The ceremony will begin promptly at 1 p.m. Friday, May 4 outside on the north side of the Courthouse. You are asked to arrive by 12:30 p.m. to be seated prior to the ceremony. 

Local and state officials have been invited to speak. An open house and reception, including courthouse tours, will be held after the ceremony.

Read more in the April 25 issue of The Ogden Reporter.

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