Marion County Courthouse (Ohio) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Marion County Courthouse
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Western front of the courthouse
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | Courthouse Sq., Marion, Ohio |
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| Built | 1884 |
| Architect | David W. Gibbs |
| NRHP reference No. | 74001572 |
| Added to NRHP | July 25, 1974 |
The Marion County Courthouse is an important building in Marion, Ohio. It's where the local government for Marion County does its work. Think of it as the main office for the county!
Contents
The Marion County Courthouse: A Historic Building
This courthouse is located right in the center of Marion, Ohio. It has "sister" buildings in Washington Court House, Ohio, and Charlotte, Michigan. All three courthouses were designed by the same architect, David W. Gibbs.
Built to Last: Design and Construction
The courthouse in Fayette County, Ohio was built between 1882 and 1885. The one in Michigan was also built around that time. It uses brick and stone, while the Ohio courthouses are mostly stone. The Marion County Courthouse was built a little later, from 1884 to 1886. Its design was actually an updated version of older plans used for courthouses in Henry County, Ohio and Union County, Ohio.
Faces in Stone: Unique Decorations
Look closely at the courthouse, and you'll see ten round windows called portholes. These portholes are decorated with cool sandstone heads! Four of these heads show different types of people: a white woman, an African man, an Asian man, and an American Indian man. Other heads include two young settler girls and a settler woman. There's even a head that looks a lot like famous writer William Shakespeare.
Saving History: Changes Over Time
In the 1970s, local leaders planned to make big changes inside the courthouse. The building had stayed mostly the same since it was built. The Marion County Historical Society, a group that cares about local history, didn't like these plans. They protested, and many people in the community agreed with them.
People even gathered enough signatures for a special vote, called a referendum, to stop the changes. However, Ohio law didn't allow this kind of vote for courthouse changes. So, even though many wanted to save the original interior, the changes went ahead. Sadly, some original wood carvings and paintings were removed. Ceilings were lowered, and new aluminum doors were put in.
To make people happier, officials promised to keep the outside of the building just as it was. They even fixed the statue of Justice that stands on top of the courthouse tower. This helped keep the historic look of the building's exterior.
