Delaware County Courthouse (Ohio) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Delaware County Courthouse
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The Delaware County Courthouse in Delaware, Ohio.
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | N. Sandusky St. and Central Ave., Delaware, Ohio |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1868 |
| Architect | Jones, R.N. |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 73001429 |
| Added to NRHP | May 22, 1973 |
The Delaware County Courthouse is a historic building in Delaware, Ohio. It's located at 117 N Union St, Delaware, OH 43015. This important building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's recognized for its special history and architecture.
Contents
History of the Courthouse
Early Days of Delaware County
Delaware County was created in 1807. At first, the main government center, called the county seat, was in a place called Berkshire. But in 1808, the town of Delaware was founded. It soon became the new county seat.
Building the First Courthouse
For a while, the courts met in different places. Then, in 1815, the county built its first courthouse. It was a simple, one-story building. It cost $8,000 to build. The building had special walls to help protect it from fire. However, a fire still damaged the building later in the 1800s. After the fire, the county had to rent other places for court meetings.
The Current Courthouse Building
The county decided to build a new, bigger courthouse in 1868. It was designed by an architect named Robert N. Jones. The building was made in the Italianate style, which was popular at the time. This new courthouse cost $80,000 to build. Many years later, in 1996, the courthouse got a big update. The renovations cost $500,000 and took six months to complete.
Future Plans for Justice
Delaware County has been growing a lot. Because of this, a new building called the Justice Center is being built. It's expected to be finished in 2017. This new center will house many important offices. These include parts of the court, the Public Defender's Office, and the Clerk of Courts. The county also plans to fix up the historic courthouse even more. They are studying what county offices will use the old building after it's renovated.
What the Courthouse Looks Like
The Delaware County Courthouse is a square, two-story building made of red bricks. The front of the building has a part that sticks out. This part is topped with a triangular shape called a pediment. The main door is set back in an arched opening. Stone blocks decorate this arch.
Above the door, there's a window with two thin arched windows inside an arched space. On each side of the main front section, there are two more arched windows. The windows on the first floor are shorter. The windows on the top floor are taller and fully arched. All the windows have fancy stone frames around them.
The roof of the courthouse is a hipped roof, which slopes down on all sides. It rises to a square section in the middle. On top of this section is a dome. A statue of Justice stands proudly on top of the dome. A decorative wrought iron railing goes around the square section. Arched windows here let light into the floors below.
