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{{for|the newer building at [[Palafox Street|Palafox]] and [[Government Street|Government]]|Escambia County Courthouse}}
The '''Old Escambia County Courthouse''' was a building on the northwest corner of [[Palafox Street|Palafox]] and [[Chase Street]]s that served as the headquarters of county government from [[1885]] until [[1937]]. It was razed in [[1938]] to make way for the [[United States Post Office and Courthouse]].
==Background==
Escambia County had held court in [[Antebellum Courthouse|a building]] on [[Plaza Ferdinand VII]] between [[1840]] and [[1866]], when it was destroyed in a fire. After leasing a space from the [[Pfeiffer family]], county operations moved once again to the [[Old Market House]] at [[Main Street|Main]] and [[Palafox Street|Palafox]].
The [[Escambia County Board of Commissioners|Commissioners]] petitioned the Florida legislature in [[1870]] for permission to levy a short-term supplementary property tax of three mills to fund a new courthouse. The tax was approved, but funds were collected slowly, drawing criticism.
{{cquote|The public records of the county for want of a suitable court house have been twice exposed to imminent danger from which they were barely rescued by the self denying efforts and energy of the [[Escambia County Clerk of Court|county clerk]], who allowed his own property to burn while rescuing the public archives. … The county is now paying for rent of courtroom and offices more money than is necessary to pay the interest on the bonds…|20px|20px|[[J. Dennis Wolfe]], editor, ''The [[Commercial]]''}}
On [[July 6]], [[1880]], County Attorney [[Stephen R. Mallory]] was authorized to negotiate the purchase of the lot at [[Palafox Street|Palafox]] and [[Chase Street]]s. It was sold by [[George Brosnaham]] for $3,250. Plans by the architectual firm [[Pettiscen and Pettiscen]] were approved in April [[1883]].
The '''Old Escambia County Courthouse''' was a building on the northwest corner of [[Palafox Street|Palafox]] and [[Chase Street]]s that served as the headquarters of county government from [[1885]] until [[1937]]. It was razed in [[1938]] to make way for the [[United States Post Office and Courthouse]].
==Background==
Escambia County had held court in [[Antebellum Courthouse|a building]] on [[Plaza Ferdinand VII]] between [[1840]] and [[1866]], when it was destroyed in a fire. After leasing a space from the [[Pfeiffer family]], county operations moved once again to the [[Old Market House]] at [[Main Street|Main]] and [[Palafox Street|Palafox]].
The [[Escambia County Board of Commissioners|Commissioners]] petitioned the Florida legislature in [[1870]] for permission to levy a short-term supplementary property tax of three mills to fund a new courthouse. The tax was approved, but funds were collected slowly, drawing criticism.
{{cquote|The public records of the county for want of a suitable court house have been twice exposed to imminent danger from which they were barely rescued by the self denying efforts and energy of the [[Escambia County Clerk of Court|county clerk]], who allowed his own property to burn while rescuing the public archives. … The county is now paying for rent of courtroom and offices more money than is necessary to pay the interest on the bonds…|20px|20px|[[J. Dennis Wolfe]], editor, ''The [[Commercial]]''}}
On [[July 6]], [[1880]], County Attorney [[Stephen R. Mallory]] was authorized to negotiate the purchase of the lot at [[Palafox Street|Palafox]] and [[Chase Street]]s. It was sold by [[George Brosnaham]] for $3,250. Plans by the architectual firm [[Pettiscen and Pettiscen]] were approved in April [[1883]].
