Historical records show that a movement to erect a federal building housing the post office, federal courts and other government functions was launched as early as 1858. This initial effort failed when Congress apparently could not justify such an expenditure for a town with only 18,554 people in 1860. Finally in 1880, Ohio congressman George L. Converse convinced his colleagues to fund construction of a federal building at State and Third Streets. The original cost of the building was under $300,000. The site of the building on Statehouse Square was undergoing considerable change at this time. As late as the civil war, most of Statehouse Square was ringed by private homes and churches. Third Street was lined with churches, many of which survive today: Central Presbyterian, Trinity Evangelical Lutheran and St. Mary's Catholic.