Lenawee County Courthouse facts for kids
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Lenawee County Courthouse
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 309 North Main Street Adrian, Michigan |
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| Built | 1885 |
| Architect | Edward Fallis |
| Architectural style | Romanesque Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 91000212 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | February 28, 1991 |
The Lenawee County Courthouse is a special building in Adrian, Michigan. It's where the local government of Lenawee County does its work. You can find it at 309 North Main Street.
This courthouse was named a Michigan Historic Site on November 14, 1974. Later, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 28, 1991. This means it's recognized as an important historical place. The courthouse is located where North Main Street (M-52) meets West Front Street.
Contents
History of the Courthouse
Early Days and Challenges
When Lenawee County first started in 1826, its main government office, called the county seat, was in a village named Tecumseh. But in 1838, the county seat moved to Adrian. A new courthouse was built there.
Sadly, that first courthouse in Adrian burned down in 1852. For a while, court meetings had to be held in different temporary places. It took a long time to get enough money to build a new, permanent courthouse. People voted several times on whether to raise the money, but the idea was turned down. Finally, in 1882, enough money was approved.
Designing and Building the Courthouse
The new courthouse was designed by Edward Fallis, an architect from Toledo, Ohio. He designed many courthouses in different states. In 1884, a company called Allen & VanTassel from Ionia was hired to build it. The cost was set at $47,460.
However, the building ended up costing more than planned. Allen & VanTassel handed the work over to another company, Knapp, Avery & Co. Even with some disagreements about the costs, the courthouse was finished the next year, in 1885.
The Courthouse Today
Since it was built, the Lenawee County Courthouse has been the main place for the county government. Even though the inside has been changed many times over the years, it is still one of the most impressive courthouses from the late 1800s that you can find in Michigan.
About the Building's Design
Architectural Style
The Lenawee County Courthouse was built in a style called Romanesque Revival architecture. This style uses elements from old Roman buildings, like big arches and strong, heavy walls. Just one year after this courthouse was finished, Edward Fallis used it as a model for another courthouse he designed in Ohio.
Outside Features
The building is quite large, measuring 134 feet long and 108 feet wide. It has a tall central tower that rises 132 feet (about 13 stories) above the ground. The main roof is shaped like a hip roof, and another hip roof crosses it. The tower stands where these roofs meet. It has a special roof on top called a mansard roof, and a small dome-shaped part called a cupola.
The bottom part of the building, called the foundation, is made of rough-cut stone. It rises six feet from the ground. Above this, there's a band of smooth sandstone. The rest of the building is made of red bricks with white mortar holding them together.
The main entrances to the courthouse have large, arched openings. Below these arches are double windows, and above them are semicircular windows that look like a fan. You enter the building through double doors that have carvings on them.
Inside the Courthouse
Inside, the courthouse has a cross shape. The first floor has a floor made of tiles arranged in cool patterns. There are two grand staircases, one on each side of the main hallway, that lead up to the second floor.
