Ashland County Courthouse (Ohio) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Ashland County Courthouse
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Ashland County Courthouse in downtown Ashland, Ohio.
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | Ashland, Ohio |
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| Architect | Vernon Redding |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 79003786 |
| Added to NRHP | 1979-12-21 |
The Ashland County Courthouse is a special building in Ashland, Ohio. It was built between 1928 and 1929. This courthouse is so important that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 21, 1979. This means it's a historic landmark worth protecting!
A Look Back: The Old Courthouse
Ashland County was created in 1846. It was formed from parts of other counties like Richland and Wayne. At first, the county used a church as its courthouse. This was a temporary solution until a proper building could be made.
The first real courthouse was finished in 1853. It was made of red brick with white wooden trim. Big columns called Corinthian columns stood at the front. Large windows let in lots of sunlight. A tall tower with a small spire rose above the roof. The old county jail was a simple stone building right next door.
Building the New Courthouse
By the summer of 1927, the first courthouse needed many repairs. The county leaders, called County Commissioners, decided it was time for a new building. They asked the citizens of the county to vote on a plan. This plan was to borrow money to build a brand new courthouse.
The new building was estimated to cost over $325,000. This was a lot of money back then! To pay for it, property taxes would go up a little bit for about 24 years. The people of Ashland County voted, and the plan passed! More than 1,200 people voted yes.
The courthouse you see today was designed by an architect named Vernon Redding. It shows off a style called Classical Revival. This style was popular in the late 1920s. It uses clean lines and smooth stone. There are not many fancy decorations.
The outside of the building is very solid. It has rectangular windows. A central part sticks out with large columns near the entrance. A small porch and stairs lead up to the sidewalk. The flat roof has a decorative railing. This railing hides a big skylight. The skylight lets light into the main hall inside the courthouse.
