Well, isn't this interesting- I decided to visit our counterpart GenWeb site for Van Buren County- Iowa-- sure enough they have a burb on their county courthouse-! http://www.rootsweb.com/~iavanbur/chousevbcgs.htm This is the tidbit I was looking for: The Van Buren Courthouse in Keosauqua is the oldest courthouse in Iowa which has remained in continuous use and the second oldest in the United States to hold that distinction. When finished in 1843, it was one of the largest buildings west of the Mississippi River. =================== Notice that they do say continuous use- but they also say, second oldest to hold that distinction!!! Just like genealogy- history also has you going from one question to another.... but the quest is sure fun! Best, Carolyn -----Original Message----- From: Don Rose <darose@yosemite.net> To: Carolyn Feroben <Sweetwater@Sierratel.com> Cc: Mariposa List <CAMARIPO-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Saturday, February 10, 2001 2:09 PM Subject: Re: [CAMARIPO] WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI- OLDEST COURTHOUSE IN CONTINUOUS USE?? > >> the article goes on to say: >> And the oldest still-functioning courthouse west of the Mississippi >> uncovered in The > Capital-Journal's informal survey? The 156-year-old >building located in >> VanBuren County in Keosaqua, Iowa.. > > >"still-functioning" does not necessarily mean "continuous use". > >> Does anyone have Pinkerton and Radonovich's Mariposa Court House Book? >> >> Do they make the claim that Mariposa is the oldest Courthouse in >continuous >> use in California, or West of the Mississippi? > >I have the Courthouse book. I think that they were careful not to make the >claim in the book. If I remember correctly, Scott once told me that he knew >of another courthouse that held that distinction. I'll look over t he book >& check. > >Don > >