Erie County Courthouse (Ohio) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Erie County Courthouse |
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Erie County Courthouse in Sandusky, Ohio
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Art Deco |
| Town or city | Sandusky, Ohio |
| Country | United States |
| Coordinates | 41°27′13.88″N 82°42′40.95″W / 41.4538556°N 82.7113750°W |
| Construction started | 1936 |
| Completed | 1939 |
| Client | Erie County Commissioners |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Myer & Holmes |
The Erie County Courthouse is a special building in Sandusky, Ohio. It's where important county business happens. This building has been serving Erie County since 1939. You can find it at 323 Columbus Street.
Contents
A Look Back: How the Courthouse Came to Be
The First Courthouse Ideas
Erie County was created in 1838. It was formed from the northern part of Huron County. For many years, the county courts met in different places around Sandusky.
People wanted a proper courthouse. So, a competition was held to find the best design. The winning design was chosen, and construction began.
The 1874 Courthouse
The first real courthouse was finished in 1874. It was designed in a style called Second Empire. This style was popular back then.
The building had three floors. Its roof had special windows called dormer windows. The corners and the middle of the building stuck out a bit. The corners had fancy towers with sloped roofs. The center had a triangular top part. A tall tower rose from the middle, with a small platform at the very top.
A Big Change: The 1930s Remodel
From 1936 to 1939, the courthouse had a huge makeover. This work was part of the WPA. The WPA was a program during the Great Depression that created jobs.
The remodel changed the building so much that it looked completely different. This big change caused some disagreements. Some people liked the new plans, while others did not. But the renovation went ahead as planned.
The Look of Today's Courthouse
Modern Art Deco Style
The remodel gave the courthouse a new look. It was designed in the Art Deco style. This style was very popular in the 1930s.
The outside walls are smooth stone. The corners no longer stick out like they used to. However, the middle part of the building still projects forward. The roof is flat now.
The Central Tower
The building still has a tower in the center. But much of the old fancy decoration was removed. The tower now has a simple, triangular stone cap at its very top.
