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Carroll County is named in honor of Charles Carroll of Carrollton,
Maryland. He was the only Roman Catholic to sign the Declaration of
Independence, and the longest living signer.
In 1855 a county government was set up in the town
Carrollton. Three years later a courthouse was constructed at a cost of
approximately $3,000. Construction was begun by Nelson Moore, but he died
with only one floor completed. The second story was completed by L. J.
Hampton.
In 1869 the centrally located railroad town of Carroll
City was selected as the county seat, replacing, with some protest,
Carrollton. The Chicago and Northwestern Railroad laid out the town and
built its first building, a warehouse. Later a $4,000 courthouse was
constructed on the town square. This building was used until it burned to
the ground in 1886. The vaults and records were undamaged, however, and
moved to temporary housing in the Joyce Building and Drees' Music Hall.
The following winter a $40,000 bond issue was approved
toward the construction of a new, permanent courthouse. The impressive
building was built on the northwest corner of the square (the parking lot
of the current courthouse). The stone and brick building, complete with a
clock tower, was used for more than three-quarters of a century. It was
replaced by a modern-looking building in 1965.
A $750,000 bond issue was used to construct and equip the
new courthouse. This building was officially dedicated on September 24,
1966. The highlight of the dedication ceremony was the opening of the
boxes sealed in the cornerstone of the old courthouse. The bell from the
previous courthouse clock tower sits on the courthouse grounds.
-source: Marie Hackett, Curator of the
Carroll County Historical Museum, 1991.
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