Antrim County Courthouse facts for kids
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Antrim County Courthouse
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | S. Cayuga St., Bellaire, Michigan |
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| Area | 5 acres (2.0 ha) |
| Built | 1904 |
| Built by | Waterman and Price |
| Architect | Jens C. Peterson |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian, Late Victorian Eclectic Vernacular |
| NRHP reference No. | 80001846 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | March 10, 1980 |
The Antrim County Courthouse is a special government building in Bellaire, Michigan. It's where important legal work happens for Antrim County. This historic building was recognized as a Michigan State Historic Site in 1974. It was also added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. Even though it was designed in 1879, it wasn't built until 1904. Today, it still houses the county's courts and the prosecuting attorney.
Contents
History of the Antrim County Courthouse
Antrim County was first created in 1840. However, the first known settler didn't arrive until 1846. This person was Abram S. Wadsworth, who lived near what is now Elk Rapids Township Hall. By 1860, fewer than 150 people lived in the whole county.
Choosing the County Seat
The oldest settlement, Elk Rapids, was chosen as the county seat. The county seat is the main town where the county government offices are located. In 1866, a small wooden courthouse was built there.
However, Antrim County started growing quickly. Many people wanted to move the county seat from Elk Rapids. Elk Rapids was located in one corner of the county. People thought a more central location would be better for everyone.
In 1879, the people of the county voted to move the county seat. It was a very close vote. The village of Bellaire was created that same year. Land was bought in Bellaire for a new courthouse square. An architect named Jens C. Peterson from Traverse City designed the new courthouse.
Delays and Construction
The close vote led to many legal challenges. People argued about the decision all the way up to the Michigan Supreme Court. This, and other legal arguments, stopped the building from being constructed for 25 years! During this time, temporary offices were used in Bellaire.
Finally, after another vote, the choice of Bellaire as the county seat was made official. The courthouse was then built using Peterson's original plans. The construction was done by the company Waterman and Price. It was built between 1904 and 1905. The cost was about $30,000.
A clock was put into the tower in 1921. It was made by the E. Howard Company from Boston. A large bell was also installed in 1922. This bell was made by the E. VanDuzen Company from Cincinnati.
Modern Use and Renovations
In 1977, a new courthouse was built in Antrim County. This was to meet the needs of the growing community. County offices moved to the new building the next year. The old 1905 courthouse stood empty for 12 years. People discussed what to do with it.
But in 1990, county voters approved $2.2 million for renovations. This money helped fix up the old building. In 1992, the county courts and the prosecuting attorney moved back into the historic courthouse.
Description of the Courthouse
The Antrim County Courthouse is a rectangular building. It has two and a half stories. It is built in a Late Victorian-eclectic style. This means it combines different styles from the Victorian era.
The building is made of red brick. It sits on a gray sandstone foundation. It has a hip roof, which slopes inward on all sides. Gray sandstone also trims the building. The metal trim under the roof, called a cornice, has been painted to match the stone.
A tall clock tower rises from the roof. It is over 100 feet high! At the very top of the tower, there is a clock face. This clock dial is 5 feet across.
See also
In Spanish: Palacio de Justicia del Condado de Antrim para niños
