Genesee County Courthouse Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Genesee County Courthouse Historic District
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South elevation and east profile of post office, 2009
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | Batavia, NY |
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| Area | 5 acres (2.0 ha) |
| Built | 1841–1926 |
| Architect | Multiple |
| Architectural style | Gothic, Italianate, Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 82001173 |
| Added to NRHP | December 10, 1982 |
The Genesee County Courthouse Historic District is a special area in downtown Batavia, New York. It's found where Main, West Main, and Ellicott streets meet. This district is home to several important government buildings.
These buildings include the county courthouse and a memorial for soldiers. They were built between the 1840s and the 1920s. Some buildings were even private homes before becoming government offices. This area is like the heart of Batavia's government. It represents the city, county, and even the federal government.
Batavia was a very important place in the early 1800s. It was where the Holland Purchase was divided up. This huge land deal covered all of what is now Western New York. In 1982, this district was recognized as a historic district. It was then added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Contents
Exploring the District's Location
The Genesee County Courthouse Historic District covers about five acres. It has an interesting, uneven shape. You can find it on the north side of West Main Street. It also stretches across both sides of West Main.
The southern edge of the district is at Ellicott Street. In this area, between Main, Ellicott, and Court Street, you'll see the county courthouse. The county government building is also nearby. The Civil War memorial stands at the street junction.
Across the street, moving from west to east, are more important buildings. These include the old county jail, the post office, and the city hall. To the south, you'll find newer government buildings and Tonawanda Creek. The famous Holland Land Office building is two blocks west. It's now a museum and a National Historic Landmark.
Important Buildings and Monuments
This historic district includes five government buildings and one monument. All of them are considered important to the district's history.
Batavia City Hall
The Batavia City Hall is located at 10 West Main Street. It was built in 1853 by George Brisbane. He was the son of an early settler. This two-story brick building has an Italianate style. The city bought it in 1917 from Brisbane's family. They changed it to be city hall, but kept its original look.
Genesee County Courthouse
The Genesee County Courthouse is at Main and Ellicott Streets. It was built between 1841 and 1843. This makes it the oldest building in the district. It's a central point for traffic coming into the city. The building is made from local limestone.
Its design was inspired by an earlier courthouse. The original style was Greek Revival. Over time, the front porch was enclosed to create more office space. This changed its look a bit. Today, it still houses county offices and the county legislature. It was added to the National Register in 1973.
Genesee County Building #1
Genesee County Building #1 is on Court Street. This is the newest building in the district. It was built where the original courthouse once stood. That first courthouse burned down in 1918. Eight years later, in 1926, this new building was constructed.
It's a two-and-a-half-story brick building. It has a Classical Revival style. You can see decorative features like a balustrade and pilasters. In 1955, an addition made the building T-shaped. Later, it was updated to be accessible for people with disabilities.
Genesee County Sheriff's Office and Jail
The Genesee County Sheriff's Office and Jail is on West Main Street. It was designed by architect William J. Beardsley. This two-story building was finished in 1903. It has a Victorian Gothic style.
The building features turrets and is made of brick and local sandstone. It looks a bit like a small fortress. It has been used by the sheriff's office since it was built. Even though other jails have been built, this one is still in use.
Soldier's Monument
The Soldier's Monument stands at Main and Ellicott streets. It's a tall shaft, 36 feet high. On top, a bronze eagle with wide wings sits on a globe. The base is made of granite. A statue of General Emory Upton faces west.
This monument was put up in 1919. It honors local veterans from the American Civil War. It also remembers those who served in World War I. Today, it continues to honor veterans from all wars.
U.S. Post Office
The U.S. Post Office is at 2 West Main Street. This brick building has a Classical Revival style. It was built in 1919. The building has an unusual parallelogram shape. This was needed because of the unique shape of the land it sits on.
It's one of only a few post offices in New York that are part of a historic district. It's considered important to the district's history.
A Look Back at History
Batavia was founded in 1802 by Joseph Ellicott. He worked for the Holland Land Company. This company was a group of Dutch investors. They bought a huge amount of land in Western New York. Ellicott chose Batavia because it was at a crossroads of two major Native American trails. These trails are now the main highways.
From the very beginning, this area was used for government. A courthouse was built here. It was used to file land deeds. This was important for people buying land in the area.
Growth and Change
Genesee County was originally much larger. It was divided many times as more people settled. By 1840, Batavia became the clear county seat. The current courthouse was then built. It was made of stone and looked much like the first one. The bell from the original courthouse is still in the new building's cupola. The first courthouse burned down in 1918.
The Erie Canal was built, but it didn't go through Batavia. This caused a slowdown in the city's growth. However, when railroads came through, Batavia grew again. William Brisbane's mansion was built in 1853 during this time of prosperity. His mansion is the only building in the district that wasn't originally built for government use.
Shaping the Civic Core
In the early 1900s, the county built a new building for its sheriff and prisoners. This was the Victorian Gothic structure opened in 1903. The years around World War I brought many changes. These changes helped shape the district into the city's main government area.
In 1917, the city of Batavia bought Brisbane's mansion. They turned it into their city hall. The next year, the original courthouse was destroyed by fire. The federal government also built its post office here in 1919. Its unique shape was due to the land.
In 1919, after the war, the city and county built the Soldiers' Monument. It honored veterans from both World War I and the Civil War. The statue of Emory Upton honors a famous local soldier.
The last government building added was the county government building. More space was needed as county government grew. The site of the old courthouse was empty. In the mid-1920s, a new building was constructed there. This ornate brick building opened in 1927. Five years later, the courthouse porch was enclosed for more office space.
Later, in 1955, a third wing was added to the county building. This was the biggest change to any of the buildings. The courthouse was updated in the 1970s. The county building was made disabled-accessible in the late 20th century.
