In June 1915, Lassen County voters approved a bond measure to build a new courthouse. It would be constructed on the site of the existing one. In September 1915, the old courthouse was put on rollers and moved to the property line along Lassen Street. It would remain in place there and used until the new courthouse was completed, though eventually many of the county offices were relocated in the county jail.
In November 1916, the county advertised for bids for the sale of the old courthouse in anticipation of moving into the new facility. Plenty of people inspected the building. The county did not know when the building would be available. In January 1917, the county received two bids for the structure one from Sierra Packing Company for $50 and the other from Charlie Emerson for $60. The county rejected both and decided to auction it off. When that event would happen no one knew. There were delays in moving into the new building, one of the big obstacles was that of the cost of furniture. During the first week in April moving into the new courthouse began in earnest.
On April 28, 1917, the auction was held with Johnstonville resident George Bennett’s winning bid of $85. Bennett immediately sold it at a higher undisclosed amount to Susanville resident Dan Armstrong who tore down the building and used it for scrap lumber. Armstrong, it should be noted in 1920 subdivided his property east of Weatherlow Street to Foss Street, which over the years the majority was purchased by Lassen Union High School.