Three Bell County courthouses have stood on this site, part of the 120 acres given by Matilda F. Connell Allen for the location of the county seat. Before a courthouse was erected, early official business of the county, created and organized in 1850, was handled in the blacksmith shop of John Danley, the first chief justice, where his anvil in one of Belton's three original buildings served as the council table. The first courthouse was a one-story 16 by 18 foot frame building erected by contractor Thomas T. Havens in 1851 at a cost of $199, financed by the sale of city lots. On April 1, 1858, the commissioners contracted with Simeon Bramlet for a two-story 50 by 60 foot native limestone building with intersecting main halls, fireplaces on each floor, double doors, and other fine details. Its cost of $13,625 was so resented that none of the commissioners were re-elected. This building was in service from Dec. 1, 1859 until 1884. The cornerstone for the third courthouse was laid on June 24, 1884, and the structure was completed by May 30, 1885. Ben D. Lee contracted to build it for $64.965. It was improved at later dates, with the county clerk's office fireproofed in 1898 and extensive remodeling and modernizing carried out in 1950.