Van Wert County Courthouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Van Wert County Courthouse
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Front and western side of the courthouse
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | 121 E. Main St., Van Wert, Ohio |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1876 |
| Architect | T.J. Tolan |
| Architectural style | Second Empire |
| NRHP reference No. | 74001639 |
| Added to NRHP | July 30, 1974 |
The Van Wert County Courthouse is a really old and important building in Van Wert, Ohio. It's located right in the middle of downtown. This special building was finished in 1876. It has a unique design style called Second Empire.
This courthouse is the third one for Van Wert County. When the county first started, a different town was the main county center. But in 1838, Van Wert became the county seat. That's when they built the first courthouse and jail here.
Contents
The Van Wert County Courthouse: A Look Inside History
What is a Courthouse and Why is it Important?
A courthouse is a building where important legal cases are heard. It's also where many government offices are located. These offices help run the county and serve the people who live there. The Van Wert County Courthouse is a central place for local government in Van Wert County.
Building History and Design
The Van Wert County Courthouse was designed by an architect named Thomas J. Tolan. He was from Fort Wayne, Indiana. The building is shaped like a square, and it has tall towers on all four corners.
The courthouse is built using a mix of materials. The bottom part, called the foundation, and the walls of the first floor are made of stone. You can also see stone used for decorative columns and corner blocks on the upper parts. The rest of the walls and the towers are made of brick.
Tolan used some new and exciting building methods when he designed the courthouse. For example, he used pressed steel in its construction. His clever ideas and the success of these new methods were even recognized in a national magazine for builders!
Special Features of the Courthouse
One of the most interesting parts of the courthouse is the tall clock tower on the front. High up in a special spot on the tower, there's a statue of Justice. This statue represents fairness and the law.
The statue is made of a metal called zinc and stands about 8 feet tall. Before it was placed on the courthouse, it won first place in a sculpture competition held in Philadelphia.
What Happens Inside the Courthouse?
Even today, the Van Wert County Courthouse is a busy place. County officials still use it for their daily work. Many important offices are located inside.
For example, you'll find the county treasurer's office, where money for the county is managed. There's also the county recorder's office, which keeps official records. The county auditor's office checks the county's finances. The Common Pleas Court also holds its sessions here, where legal cases are decided.
Some other county offices, like the county sheriff and the county commissioners, have their offices in different buildings nearby.
A Recognized Landmark
In 1974, the Van Wert County Courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a special list of buildings, sites, and objects that are important in American history. It was the very first building in Van Wert County to get this honor!
The courthouse was chosen because its historic design was very well-preserved. Its architecture was considered important not just for the county, but for the whole state of Ohio.
