Decatur County Courthouse (Indiana) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Decatur County Courthouse
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Decatur County Courthouse, July 2019
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 Location in Indiana
Location in the United States
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| Location | Courthouse Square, Greensburg, Indiana |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1854 |
| Architectural style | Romanesque |
| Part of | Greensburg Downtown Historic District (ID95001113) |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000014 |
| Added to NRHP | April 27, 1973 |
The Decatur County Courthouse is a special building in Greensburg, Indiana. It's famous for something very unusual: a tree growing right on its roof! This historic courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. It is also part of the Greensburg Downtown Historic District.
Contents
A Look Back: Courthouse History
The very first courthouse in Decatur County was built in the 1820s. It was a simple log building. On May 14, 1822, the first court meeting happened there.
A few years later, a small brick building was built. It had two stories and was forty feet square. Court was held in this building until 1855.
Building the Current Courthouse
Work on the courthouse you see today started in 1850. It was finished in 1861. The building cost about $100,000, which was a huge amount back then! People said it was the best courthouse in the entire state.
The Mystery of the Rooftop Trees
In the early 1870s, something strange happened. People noticed a tree growing on the courthouse roof! Soon, four more trees appeared on the one hundred and ten foot steeple (the tall, pointy tower).
This fast growth worried county officials. They feared the trees would damage the tower. In 1888, a steeplejack was hired. A steeplejack is someone who climbs tall structures. They helped workers remove some of the shrubs.
Only two trees were left. One of them grew to be fifteen feet tall! Its base was five inches wide. Later, another tree started growing on the southeast corner of the tower. It also grew very tall. Then, a new tree popped up on the southwest corner.
What Kind of Tree Is It?
For a long time, people argued about what kind of trees were growing on the roof. The Smithsonian Institution once said they were large-tooth aspen trees.
However, a more recent study was done by forest experts from Purdue University. They found that the tree growing there now is a mulberry tree.
Modern Changes to the Courthouse
In 1994, the courthouse got a big update. The north side of the building was expanded. This more than doubled the space inside!
During this renovation, the stucco (a type of plaster) that covered the building was removed. This revealed the original brick walls underneath.
