Hill County Court Records
June 10, 1854

	Courthouse Replica at Cell Block Museum

"At a special session of Honorable County Court of Hill County begun and holden at the Town of Hillsboro on the 10th day of June 1854. Present the Honorable James H. Dyer, Chief Justice, James M. Sanford and Thomas Brigg, Commissioners, and C. N. Brooks, Clerk, of said court and George R. Hart, Sheriff Pro-Tem, who proceeded to open Court according to Law.

Ordered by the court that the sum of two hundred dollars for the purpose of building a temporary courthouse to be of the following dimensions, to wit, a frame 30 feet long and 25 feet wide, sills not less than 8 in diameter square, at least 4 pillows of rock under each sill plates. Not less than 6 inches square corner posts, not less than 6 inches square studding, not less than 6 inches thick, after being hewn on both sides so as to admit ceiling a sufficient number of crop girders-rafters, not more than 2 ft. apart and striding not more than 2 ft apart to be neatly weather boarded with plank weather boarding and covered with 2 ft. boards or shingles and show not more than 8" if covered with boards. Said house to be not less than 10 ft high from the under edge of the sill to the under edge of the plate.

Interior, Courthouse Replica at Cell Block Museum

Two doors, one in the side and the other in the end with goon shutters to the same made of plank not less than 1" thick. On middle sill and sleepers to be 6" thick placed 2 ft apart. Plank floor 6" wide and 1" thick. Five windows, 2 in each side and one in the end of the house, said windows to be not less than 4 ft high and 3 ft wide. Each window to have a double shutter made of plank not less than 1" thick. A stand of sufficient size and convenient number of seats, done in workman like manner and the citizens of Hill County assist the court in building said house and the county court to have the letting out of the contract and have general control of said house until they shall build a permanent courthouse after which time they shall relinquish their interest in said house to the School Trustees in School District No. 1 in said county. "