The first steps taken toward the realization of the present beautiful structures were taken when, on April 9, 1889, a delegation composed of John F. Locke, J. C. Bridgman, Mayor Hamilton, R. H. McCloud, Bruce P. Jones, Judge Clark and others, went to Columbus to present the Hon. Daniel Boyd, the local representative in the General Assembly, with a petition asking that the Legislature grant the commissioners of Madison county the authority to issue twenty-year bonds to the amount of one hundred and fifty thousands dollars, for the purpose of erecting a new court house, a new jail and a sheriff's residence. Such a bill was introduced and was enacted into law within the next week. The first step taken by the commissioners was on April 13, when they passed a resolution to build a new court house and a new jail. On July 2, following, they hired G. W. Maetzel, of Columbus, as architect. At their meeting of June 8, they decided to erect the new building on the site occupied by the old court house, with the addition of lots Nos. 11 and 12, adjoining which were purchased of Phoebe Phifer for the sum of eight thousand, two hundred and fifty dollars. A building committee was organized, composed of the commissioners, the clerk of the court, the sheriff, the probate judge and one other appointed by the court of common pleas. Its personnel consisted of W. E. Beals, A. C. Willett and J. P. Bowers, commissioners; M. F. Dunn, clerk of the court; J. T. Vent, sheriff; 0. P. Crabb, probate judge, and Charles Butler, appointee of the court of common pleas. W. E. Beals was chosen to act as the committee's chairman, with M. F. Dunn as secretary.
On July 15, 1889, Architect Maetzel submitted plans and specifications for the court house to the building committee and they were accepted with a few minor changes on September 9. The following description of the edifice is taken from the specifications:
"The total length of the building is one hundred forty feet by eighty feet wide; it contains a basement and two stories.
"The basement contains a hall for public meetings. which has a height of about ten feet. The balance of the basement will not be utilized at present, but at any time in the future, if more store room for documents is required, the greater portion of the basement can be fitted up for the purpose without great difficulty or expenditure of money.
"The first story is fifteen feet in height and contains the ofiices of the treasurer, auditor, probate judge, recorder, commissioners and surveyor; the spacious halls, corridors and stairs leading to the second story are thoroughly lighted by means of a skylight extending over the entire main corridor.
"The second story is fifteen feet high and contains the clerk's and sheriff's otfices, the rooms for witnesses, the grand jury and petit juries, a room for the prosecuting attorney and court stenographer, also a room for the board of education; the court room and the private office of the judge of the court of Common Pleas are also on this floor.
"The fioors of all rooms and ofiices, halls and corridors will be covered with encaustic tiling; all stairways will be constructed of iron.
"The buildings will be fire-proof, the foundation to be built of sandstone, the super structure of stone and brick, all joists and roof support construction to be of iron and steel, the cornice of stone, the roof covered with slate and copper, all stairways of iron, floor construction to be of terra-cotta tiles between the joists; wood will be only used for windows, doors and baseboards.
"Ventilation will be through a series of conductors connecting all rooms, halls, etc., with the main ventilating shaft, which will be built in connection with the boiler house in the rear of the court house. From this boiler house the heating by steam, of the court house and the new jail will be accomplished."