600 E. Fourth Street Chaska , MN - View Map: In 1857, one year
after Chaska was named the county seat, county commissioners
authorized a bond issue of $13,000 and broke ground for the
county's first courthouse. Construction crews managed to build
the courthouse walls before they stopped construction because
the bonding company defaulted. A roof was built to make part of
the building usable in 1861. When Waconia threatened to force
another vote on the location of the county seat, Chaska
residents contributed $5,500 to settle all claims and deed the
courthouse property to Carver County. The Courthouse was finally
completed in 1872. In the meantime, court was held in a room
leased by the county elsewhere in Chaska. The 1872 Italianate
building was a two-story brick rectangle with narrow arched
windows and a heavy cornice forming a curve above the central
bay. An onion-shaped dome and finial sat on top of a square
cupola in the center of the building. By 1920, the building was
described as needing replacing, but