Every county needs a county seat, a city which serves as the seat of government for the county. That fortunate city becomes the focal point of the county and is where the county courthouse is located. In the early days of Minnesota, being the county seat held the potential for community growth, economic development and prosperity. It is no wonder, then, that the location of the county seat can grow into a major controversy, as was the case in Wadena County.

Although the Wadena county seat battle was simmering as early as 1879, it began to heat up in 1886. In that year, the citizens of Verndale built a fine courthouse building at a cost of about $6,958 and offered it to Wadena County as a gift, on condition that within one year after its acceptance, the county seat would be moved to Verndale. The county board did not accept the gift.

Verndale's courthouse was a handsome, Second Empire style structure erected on a 300' square block of ground, bounded on all four sides by streets. It was designed by Verndale architect and builder T. C. Myers. The building was 42' x 62', two stories high, and covered by a handsome iron mansard roof and tower; the first story was 12' high, and the second was 16'; full height to the top of the tower was 67'. The walls were entirely made of brick, the first story 17" thick and the second 13" thick. The first floor contained offices for the auditor, treasurer, clerk of court, register of deeds, and superintendent of schools. The second floor furnished a courtroom, grand jury room and sheriff's office (together), a jury room and small counsel chamber. The third floor, within the mansard roof, was to supply additional jury rooms, or other uses for future expansion. This additional space was 40' x 60', ten feet high. There were two entrances to the second story and court room.

The site upon which the building was erected was worth at a modest figure $500 to $600.

Saint Otto's College and Verndale Academy

Following the county seat battle, the structure got a second life as a Catholic academy. On September 2, 1892 the organizers of the institution dedicated the building as "Saint Otto's College and Verndale Academy." Tuition for day students was $5 per month. The corps of professors of the college was: President and lecturer on Christian Evidences, Rev. Wm. Gumper; Rector and professor of Latin, Greek, architecture, fine art and dean of the classical school, Rev. Ignatius Galluff; professor of elocution, English literature, mathematics, and commercial branches, P. F. McNulty; professor of German, French and music, L. Gumper; assistant professor of music, Rev. F. Zumbusch; professor of type writing and stenography, J. F. Lanigan; lecturer on medicine, Dr. V. F. Rounds; on law, C. E. Bullard. Unfortunately, the academy's life was short, it closed in 1894 from a lack of support by local Catholics.

Read about it in the Verndale Journal, Sept. 8, 1892.

Later, the building's second floor was remodeled into an opera house and the lower level was fitted with an electric powerhouse to generate electricity for the town. On January 5, 1912, the engine room caught fire and the Verndale courthouse building burned.