ONTONAGON – Residents are asked to help tidy up the grounds of the old county courthouse Saturday, and help generate ideas for future use.

“So far we are looking at setting up a farmers market and flea market in the old village square behind the old courthouse,” current owner Jason Pragacz said.

Pragacz expects to have the first market May 28.

The building is listed on The National Register of Historic Places as a Landmark Building.

“Externally, it has to remain exactly as it is,” because of its listing, Pragacz said.

The building originally was erected in 1886, but destroyed in the Diamond Match Company fire 10 years later. It was rebuilt 1897.

“Ontonagon County was created in 1843 from the southwestern portion of Houghton County. However, the site of the current county seat was not decided until 1858, and a decision to build a proper courthouse was not made until 1884. A disastrous fire destroyed most of the city, including this courthouse. However, the foundation and brick walls were salvaged, and the interior was redesigned and rebuilt. The near-destruction of Ontonagon came at a tumultuous time in Ontonagon County’s history, soon after a portion of the county split off to form Gogebic County and while another section of Ontonagon was considering doing the same. Reconstruction of the town, its port, and the courthouse pulled the citizens of the county together,” according to Wikipedia.

In 1937, a Work Progress Administration project added a boiler plant to the back of the building, which heated the courthouse and the old jail.

The courthouse remained in use until 1980, when a new courthouse was built on the Greenland Road.

“All the original woodwork is still there,” Pragacz said.

Pragacz operates a small business in the building, in which addition office space is available for rent. He’s also hoping to set up summer tours of the property.

Contact Pragacz at 884-6790 or on his Facebook page grounds clean up,/meet and greet.