Hillsdale County Courthouse facts for kids
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Hillsdale County Courthouse
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 29 N. Howell St, Hillsdale, Michigan |
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| Area | 2.2 acres (0.89 ha) |
| Built | 1898 |
| Built by | Geake and Henry |
| Architect | Claire Allen |
| Architectural style | Renaissance Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 82002835 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | August 11, 1982 |
The Hillsdale County Courthouse is an important government building. You can find it at 29 North Howell Street in Hillsdale, Michigan. This historic building helps manage the county's affairs. It was recognized as a special Michigan State Historic Site in 1969. Later, in 1982, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is a very important landmark in the United States.
Contents
History of the Courthouse
Early Days of Hillsdale County
Hillsdale County was created from Lenawee County in 1829. At first, the main town for the county government was Jonesville. This decision was made in 1831.
Moving the County Seat
By 1839, the town of Hillsdale wanted to be the county seat. This meant they wanted to be the main place for the county government. Hillsdale was more in the center of the county. In 1843, the state government agreed to move the county seat to Hillsdale.
First Courthouses
A small building was quickly put up to serve as a courthouse. Soon after, a larger wooden building was built. It was about 30 feet by 50 feet in size. Sadly, this wooden courthouse burned down in 1849. A new courthouse made of sandstone was finished by early 1851.
Building the Current Courthouse
By 1887, people realized that a brand new courthouse was needed. However, it took a while for voters to agree to spend money on it. Finally, in 1898, they approved $45,000 for the new building. This was a lot of money back then!
The county hired Claire Allen from Jackson to design the courthouse. The company Geake and Henry from Fort Wayne, Indiana built it. Construction happened during 1898 and 1899. The building was officially opened on September 6, 1899. A clock was added to the tower in 1909. This clock was later fixed up in 1985.
What the Courthouse Looks Like
The Hillsdale County Courthouse is a beautiful three-story building. It is made of yellow sandstone. The building's style is called Renaissance Revival. This style looks back to old European designs.
The roof of the courthouse is shaped like a hip roof. On top of the roof, there is a special dome-like structure called a cupola. This cupola has a shiny copper roof. The main entrance of the building has a covered porch. This porch has a triangular top part called a pediment.
