Crown Point Courthouse Square Historic District facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Crown Point Courthouse Square Historic District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
The former Lake County Courthouse at the center of the district
Location in Indiana Show map of Indiana Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Roughly bounded by Clark St., the alley E of Main St., Hack Ct., and Court St. (original); Roughly bounded by Robinson, East, Walnut, and Court Sts. (increase); 208 Main St. (increase II); in Crown Point, Indiana
Built	1873 (original)
Architect	Cochran, J.D.; Beers & Beers et al. (original); Buckley, George (increase II)
Architectural style	Italianate, Second Empire, et al. (original); Italianate, Queen Anne (increase); Moderne (increase II)
NRHP reference No.	04000203, 05001464 and 07000210
Added to NRHP	March 22, 2004 (original) December 8, 2005 March 29, 2007 (increase II)

The Crown Point Courthouse Square Historic District is a special area in Crown Point, Indiana. It's filled with old buildings that tell stories about the past. This district was officially recognized in 2004 for its important history.

Many of the buildings here were built in the late 1800s and early 1900s. They show how much the town grew during that time. At the very center of this historic district is the impressive Lake County Courthouse.

Discovering the Lake County Courthouse

The Lake County Courthouse is a very important building. It was designed by architect John C. Cochrane in 1878. The building mixes two cool styles: Romanesque Revival and Classical.

Over the years, the courthouse got bigger. New parts were added in 1909 and again in 1928. This happened because the county kept growing. The courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. This means it's a really special landmark!

Exploring Old Commercial Buildings

Around the courthouse, you'll find many commercial buildings. These were once shops and businesses. They show off popular building styles from the late 1800s.

For example, the I.O.O.F. Building has an "Italianate Commercial" style. It has fancy metal decorations. The Allman Block is built in the "Romanesque Revival" style. These buildings were mostly built between 1880 and 1891.

Buildings from the Early 1900s

As time moved into the early 1900s, new buildings appeared. The 1908 Carnegie Library is one example. It's right next to the Masonic Lodge on South Main Street. The Masonic Lodge was built around 1920. Both use the "Colonial Revival" style.

Across Main Street, you can see more Colonial Revival buildings. These include the Lake County Criminal Court Building and the Community Center. They were also built in the 1920s.

The Historic Sheriff's House and Jail

The Lake County Sheriff's House and Jail were built in 1882. They were the first permanent buildings for these purposes. The jail was made larger in 1910. Most of the building you see today was finished in 1934.

This jail is famous because John Dillinger, a well-known bank robber, escaped from it in March 1934. The jail closed in 1974. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.

Important Buildings in the District

A map showing the Crown Point Courthouse Square Historic District.

All the buildings listed here help make the Historic District special. Some are extra important!

• An 'O' rating means a building is so important it could be listed on the National Register of Historic Places by itself.
• An 'N' rating means a building is above average and might be important enough for its own listing.
• A 'C' rating means the building helps the whole district feel historic.

Buildings on Clark Street (North Side)

• 106 Commercial Building, built around 1890.

Buildings on Joliet Street (South Side)

• 115 Commercial Building, built around 1920.
• 113 Commercial Building, built around 1900.
• 111 Commercial Building, Minas Building, built around 1937.
• 107 Commercial Building, I.O.O.F, Italianate style, built around 1880 (N).
• 105 Commercial Building, Italianate style, built in 1878.
• 103 Commercial Building, Italianate style, built in 1878.

Buildings on Hark Court (South Side)

• 105-107 Commercial Building, built around 1900.

Buildings on North Court Street (West Side)

• 1 Commercial Building, built around 1890.
• 5 Commercial Building, Italianate style, built around 1890.
• 9 Commercial Building, built around 1920.
• 13 Commercial Building, built around 1920.
• 15 Commercial Building, built around 1920.
• 19 Theater, Art Deco style, built around 1940.
• 21 Stan-Register Paper Building, built around 1910.
• 103 Community Center, Colonial Revival style, built around 1925.
• 105 Solon Robinson Historical Marker, from 1834.

Buildings on South Main Street (West Side)

• Crown Point Carnegie Library Historical Marker, from 1908.
• 223 Crown Point Carnegie Library, Colonial Revival style, built in 1908.
• 225 Masonic Temple, Colonial Revival style, built around 1920 (N).
• 209-211 Commercial Building, built in 1930.
• 99 Lake County Courthouse.
• Lake County Courthouse Historical Marker, from 1874.

Buildings on North Main Street (West Side)

• 1 Allman Block, Romanesque Revival style, built in 1891 (Amos Allman Building)(N).
• 103-105 Commercial Building, built around 1920.
• 113 Commercial Building, Italianate style, built in 1896.
• 116 Commercial Building, built around 1910.

Buildings on South Main Street (East Side)

• Lake County Sheriff's House & Jail Historical Marker, from 1882.
• 212 Lake County Sheriff's House, Second Empire style, built in 1882 (O).
• 230 Lake County Criminal Court, Colonial Revival style, built around 1920 (O).
• 208-210 Commercial Building, built around 1900.
• 204 Commercial Building, built around 1920.
• 138 Bank, Neoclassical style, built around 1915 (O).
• 136-132 Commercial Building, Italianate style, built in 1878 (N).
• 120 Commercial Building, Italianate style, built in 1881.
• 112 Commercial Building, Italianate style, built around 1880.
• 110 Commercial Building, Gable-front style, built around 1860.
• 108 Commercial Building, built around 1910.
• 102 Commercial Building, Italianate style, built around 1880.
• 100 Commercial Building, Italianate style, built around 1880.

Buildings on North Main Street (East Side)

• 108-110 Commercial Building, built around 1890.
• 116 Bastiani Building, built in 1926.

Buildings on South East Street (West Side)

• 213 Lake County Jail, built in 1934, (O) NR.
• 211 Industrial Building, built around 1930.

Images for kids

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  107 Joliet St - Commercial Bldg, I.O.O.F, Italianate c. 1880 (N)

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  105 Solon Robinson Historical Marker, 1834

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  1 N. Main - Allman Block, Romanesque Revival, 1891, (Amos Allman Building)(N)

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  230 S. Main - Lake County Criminal Court, Colonial Revival, c. 1920 (O)

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  223 S. Main - Crown Point Carnegie Library, Colonial Revival, 1908

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  225 S. Main - Masonic Temple, Colonial Revival, c. 1920 (N)

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  212 S. Main - Lake County Sheriff's House, Second Empire, 1882 (O) with the 213 S. Main - Lake County Jail, Vernacular, 1934, (O) NR in back.

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  138 S. Main – Peoples Bank, Neoclassical, c. 1915 (O)

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  136-132 S. Main - Commercial Bldg, Italianate, 1878 (N)