I felt a little bit bad thinking that from a courthouse perspective, very little in Minnesota had thus far compared to the bounties of North Dakota. Because of that thought, however, I didn't expect much out of the Kittson County Courthouse so I wasn't especially disappointed with it. It was almost a case study for … Continue reading 941. Hallock, Kittson County (MN05) →

Or perhaps this would be more aptly titled “West Lynne, Manitoba.”Apparently, when I crossed into Manitoba, I encountered the surliest Canadian border guard I had even met in my many (read “four”) trips to Canada.  Every other time, I’ve met genial, talkative folks.  This guy, on the other hand, was sick of everybody’s crap, mine … Continue reading The Great White North 3 (Electric Boogalee) →

Once again, heightened expectations were working to the detriment of this courthouse.  That said, it’s even better than the one in Grafton and Grafton was good.  Luckily, the cache made up for any imagined discrepancy in courthouse classification. Someone was kind enough to place one at the courthouse itself and that someone was the Lord … Continue reading 940. Cavalier, Pembina County (ND06) →

On any other day, I would talk about how lovely the Walsh County Courthouse is.  It’s a solid piece of art deco that deserves praise.  However, after a string monstrously gorgeous courthouses, it feels lacking even though it lacks nothing.  On this day, the standards were raised impossibly high. As for the cache, I once … Continue reading 939. Grafton, Walsh County (ND05) →

Make that four for four in North Dakota!  Look at this beautiful piece of classical architecture!  And she doesn’t have a tower; she has a crown!  I’ve just got to find out how they fund their courthouses around here!  It has occurred to me that being this close to the Red River (du Nord) and … Continue reading 938. Grand Forks, Grand Forks County (ND04) →

Thus far, North Dakota had been three for three with regards to its banger courthouses!  Does the state actually make a concerted effort to fund impressive courthouses like this?  Because it’s hard for me to believe that that even the smallest county seats have such impressive one and that every county can be similarly impressive.  … Continue reading 937. Hillsborough, Traill County (ND03) →

Being that I am an unimaginative hack, you know very well what was playing in both my internal and external soundtracks as I rolled into town.  The strings sped my way to the courthouse and a certain amount of disappointment found thereat.  The Cass County Courthouse was absolutely lovey, but Future Arborists of America, attend!  … Continue reading 936. Fargo, Cass County (ND02) →

I didn’t dislike the Clay County Courthouse though I must admit that I wasn’t in love with it either.  It felt like someone designed something functional and someone else cracked open the blueprints in the middle of the night and added in a splash of panache.  It’s the minimalist nature of the ornamentation that brings … Continue reading 935. Moorhead, Clay County (MN04) →

Had I stuck to the plan as originally conceived or as laid out in its final incarnation, this would have been my first county in Minnesota.  As I pulled up to the Wilkin County Courthouse, I was still glad that my weakness led me to Ortonville.  The courthouse was a lovely piece of Art Deco, … Continue reading 934. Breckenridge, Wilkin County (MN03) →

Oh, North Dakota!Good show, Wahpeton!  The Richland County Courthouse is a gloriously classical beast!  Wahpeton is one of two cities that have grown together, one on the North Dakota side, the other on the Minnesota side.  Or maybe it’s actually the same city that just broke apart because of the border?  I have no idea.  … Continue reading 933. Wahpeton, Richland County (ND01) →