Three courthouses in less than 40 years…it’s been known to happen, Yesterday in La Crosse

Some counties in Wisconsin have used the same courthouse for a century or more. For example, Vernon County has used the same building in Viroqua for its court system since the 1880’s. In La Crosse County, however, there have been three courthouses occupied over the last 70 years, as the county updates its facilities for the times.

For about 60 years, starting in 1903, the La Crosse Courthouse stood between 3rd and 4th Streets, south of Vine, in what is now occupied by the Belle Square complex. In the summer of 1962, the La Crosse County Board okayed plans for a brand new courthouse and jail, to be built a couple of blocks up the street from the existing courthouse. The expected cost, just over $2 million. Even at that price, the county was looking for ways to save money, deciding to have only two elevators instead of three, and eliminating plans for a fourth floor. The courthouse was supposed to be T-shaped, but that idea was scrapped, too.

The new building opened in 1965, and they finally did add a fourth floor after that courthouse was replaced by the current one on Vine Street, which never did add a fourth floor until a few years ago. It is now occupied by apartments, and is known as the Hub.

When the 1960’s courthouse between 4th and 6th was being built, the county decided there was no reason to keep the old domed building around, and that courthouse was demolished in April of 1965, during the big Mississippi River flood of that spring.

The former courthouse on what is now called Belle Square was replaced with a Montgomery Ward store, which operated there for 20 years until it was closed. Eventually, the department store was torn down and used as a city parking lot until the Belle Square complex was built in 2017.

During the 2010’s, the county decided another new courthouse was needed, partly because of plans to increase the number of circuit court branches. The 1960’s courthouse was then remodeled, and during that process, a metal time capsule from the previous courthouse was accidentally found behind a dedication plaque in 2017. When that time capsule was opened with a hand-held can opener, it was found to contain books, coins, and 1960’s newspapers, along with souvenirs from the old 1903 courthouse. Lots of court history, yesterday in La Crosse.