Stutsman County Courthouse revival planned thanks to historic $5.86 million donation

BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) – Nothing quite beats the views from the Stutsman County Courthouse clock tower.

It’s too rundown to climb right now, but thanks to a charitable gift from a local, that will soon change.

The entire courthouse will be renovated to preserve the structure for years to come.

The Stutsman County Courthouse was built in 1883 and is North Dakota’s oldest surviving courthouse.

It’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places, but thanks to a recent large and mysterious donation, the courthouse will survive well into the future.

In a town with just over 15,000 people, secrets are hard to come by. But walking the grounds of the Stutsman County Courthouse, you might never know the dedication and generosity it takes to keep it all going.

“We’re open three days a week all winter long. This is really where North Dakota became a state. We say it’s the birthplace of North Dakota,” said 1883 Stutsman County Courthouse site supervisor Kyle Nelson.

But even more enchanting than its seemingly everlasting charm is a $5.86 million donation that unexpectedly came through this past September, from a man no one would have expected.

“George Spangler was someone I didn’t know personally. Actually, I’ve never met him,” said Nelson.

“I knew him as an acquaintance,” said former Courthouse Site Supervisor Steven Reidburn.

“He was just a local business owner. He owned the antique shop,” said Nelson.

“I bought some things from George,” said Stutsman County resident Art Todd.

“He was always just kind of around, somebody around the fringes,” said Stutsman County resident Barb Lang.

“He took an interest in the building even though he was not known for getting active in the community,” said Nelson.

“He was quite a character, to say the least,” said Todd.

“None of us knew that he had any money at all, and the fact that he would ever give it to us— he could be a grumpy old codger,” said Lang.

“When he passed on, the State Historical Society got a call from his estate saying, ‘Hey, you know, he’s made a donation. It could be pretty sizeable,’” said Nelson.

That donation turned out to be the biggest the State Historical Society has ever received.

“The foundation has been in existence since 1965, and the George Spangle gift is the largest ever received by the foundation, which is considerable considering we went through a capital expansion project,” said North Dakota State Historical Society Foundation executive director Dale Lennon.

You might miss it, but tucked behind the opulence and ornate fixtures waiting around each corner, a slew of projects is waiting to be addressed.

Lennon said they plan to use the money to renovate the press box, clock tower, staircase, basement, install an HVAC system and other little projects to keep the site thriving.

“There was no funding. So, it is these little things that always chipped away to the point where there was a movement to tear the whole thing down because it seemed like such a huge project,” said Nelson.

So, the next time you stop by the old Clerk of Courts to make an old-fashioned phone call, think of George.

“I guess about all I can say is that George was George,” said Todd.

Thanks to George’s generosity, the courthouse will live on and so will his legacy.

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