Van Buren County Courthouse (Michigan) facts for kids
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Van Buren County Courthouse Complex
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 212 E. Paw Paw St., Paw Paw, Michigan |
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| Area | 2 acres (0.81 ha) |
| Built | 1901 |
| Built by | George Rickman & Sons |
| Architect | Claire Allen |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 79001169 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | August 9, 1979 |
The Van Buren County Courthouse is an important government building. You can find it at 212 East Paw Paw Street in Paw Paw, Michigan. This building was recognized as a special Michigan State Historic Site in 1977. Later, in 1979, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's a very important place in history!
Contents
History of the Courthouse
Choosing a County Seat
Van Buren County was first mapped out in 1829. In 1837, local leaders decided that Paw Paw would be the main town for the county. This main town is called the "county seat." It's where the county government does its work.
Building the First Courthouse
Construction for the first courthouse started in 1842. The building was ready for use in 1845. But by 1900, people decided it was time for a new, bigger courthouse. Voters agreed to spend $35,000 to build it. The old courthouse was moved to a new spot. Today, that original building is the Paw Paw City Hall.
Designing the New Courthouse
The county hired an architect named Claire Allen from Jackson. He was chosen to design the new building. A company called George Rickman & Sons was hired to build it. The first stone of the new courthouse was placed on September 2, 1901.
The total cost for the new courthouse, including a jail and furniture, was $120,000. Building the courthouse took about a year and a half. It was officially opened on February 23, 1903.
Later Changes and Additions
In 1974, a new part was added to the courthouse. This annex gave the building more space for offices. Later, in 1986, a special clock was put in the tower. It's called the Sheldon and Oradell Rupert Memorial Clock.
What the Courthouse Looks Like
The Van Buren County Courthouse has three floors. It is built in a style called Classical Revival. This style often uses ideas from ancient Greek and Roman buildings. The courthouse is made of yellow sandstone. It has a red tile roof that slopes down on all sides, called a hip roof.
The Clock Tower
In the middle of the building, there is a tall clock tower. This tower is designed in an Italian Renaissance style. On top of the tower, there is a small dome-like structure called a cupola. Both the cupola and the main decorative edge of the roof are made of copper.
Inside the Courthouse
Much of the inside of the courthouse still looks like it did when it was first built. The main courtroom has high, curved ceilings. It also has dark wood details. The electric lights look like the old gas lights that were there originally. You can also see four large murals inside the courthouse.
