COURTHOUSE BUILDING - CIRCA 1872

In 1870, Provo City posted bids for the construction of a new courthouse. The work on this building began in 1872 and was completed in 1873 at a cost of $21,478.80. Brigham Young was at the dedication of the Courthouse on October 14, 1873.

The building was constructed facing north on Center Street on City and County land. The contractors were paid one-third in cash, one-third in grain, and one-third in shares of Provo Woolen Mills stock. By 1919, the courthouse was found to be too small for the needs of the growing city and county, and plans were then made to construct a new and larger city and county building. It was razed between 1919 and 1920 when the present Courthouse building was begun in 1920.

While the present courthouse was under construction, court sessions were held on the third floor of the Knight building.

COURTHOUSE BUILDING - CIRCA 1866

In 1860, $2,000 was appropriated to build a courthouse. This was Provo's first building constructed to be used as a courthouse. The one-story brick structure was started in 1866 and finished in 1867 at a cost of $5,092.16. It was built on First West between First and Second North.

It served as a jail and courthouse for five years and then was sold to the Provo Woolen Mills. A notable event in the history of this building was the trial, conviction, and execution of Chauney M. MIllard on January 26, 1869. He was executed for the murder of two herders north of Utah Lake while people, filling the square, watched.