Benzie County Courthouse facts for kids
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Benzie County Courthouse
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Building in 2013
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| Location | 7157 Crystal Avenue Beulah, Michigan |
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| Built | 1912 |
| NRHP reference No. | 96000611 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | June 3, 1996 |
The Benzie County Courthouse is an old building in Beulah, Michigan, with a cool history. It used to be a courthouse, a place where important legal decisions were made. Before that, it was even a hotel and a fun center! Today, it's recognized as a special historic place both in Michigan and across the country.
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History of the Benzie County Courthouse
The building we now know as the Benzie County Courthouse was first built in 1912. It started its life as a recreation center and a hotel, and it was called "The Grand."
In 1916, something big happened for Beulah. The town won an election to become the county seat for Benzie County. This meant it would be the main town for the county's government.
Because Beulah was now the county seat, they needed a courthouse. So, "The Grand" hotel was changed into a courthouse. The first floor became offices for the county, and the second floor had a courtroom and a home for the sheriff. There was even a small jail, sometimes called "The County Root Cellar," connected to the building. The county courthouse officially opened in this building on June 1, 1916.
Changes and New Buildings
The courthouse building got some big updates between 1936 and 1938. Benzie County rented the building for a while, but then they bought it from Beulah in 1942 for about $3,000.
By 1975, the county had saved enough money to build a brand-new courthouse. They started building it in January 1975. The county government moved out of the old historic building in 1976.
Since then, the old courthouse building has been used for many different things. It has been home to stores, restaurants, an inn, and even apartments.
Historic Recognition
The building was officially named a Michigan State Historic Site on February 16, 1989. Later, on June 3, 1996, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's a very important building that needs to be protected because of its history.
Architecture and Design
The Benzie County Courthouse has a unique look. Its design mixes ideas from Mission Revival and Spanish Colonial Revival architecture.
The outside of the building is covered with clapboard, which are long, flat pieces of wood. It has two main floors and an attic space at the top. You'll notice special roof shapes called Flemish gables on the sides and at the front.
A large, two-story porch, called a portico, stretches across the front of the building. This porch has strong, square columns that give the building a grand appearance.
See also
In Spanish: Palacio de Justicia del Condado de Benzie para niños
