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Hancock County Courthouse (Ohio)

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Hancock County Courthouse
The front of the courthouse
LocationFindlay, Ohio
ArchitectFrank Weary and George Washington Kramer
Architectural stylePalladium, Victorian, and Richardson Romanesque[2][2]
NRHP reference No.73001475[1]
Added to NRHP1973-05-07[1][1]

The Hancock County Courthouse is a historic courthouse in Findlay, Ohio, United States. Built between 1886 and 1888, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.[1] The building, as planned in 1885, was to replace a previous brick courthouse located at the same site. When oil and natural gas were found in Hancock County shortly thereafter, the Courthouse was given many of it's unique and eclectic stylings. [2] On April 17, 1885 the Ohio Legislature authorized the construction of a new courthouse for Hancock county with the raising of $100,000 in bonds. The cornerstone was laid on August 11, 1886. W.H. Campfield won the initial bid to construct the courthouse enclosure and that was completed by November of 1886. Campfield again won the bid for the completeion of the project. Amidst delays the project soared from an estimate of $121,890.25 to $305,272.53 (although after refunds on the bonds and interest this blossomed to more than $511,010). [3]

The building measures 82 by 142 feet and is 139.5 feet tall from the sidewalk to the top of the county's namesake and Founding Father John Hancock.[4] The Hancock statue is made of copper and it stands next to a pedestal with a lawbook upon the clock tower. It stands approximately 18 feet tall. In September of 1922, during a severe storm the statue was blown off the courthouse and extensively damaged. It was repaired the following year.[2] Below John Hancock sit the three feminine figures, Law, Justic, and Mercy, also made out of copper.[5] The clocktower itself has four faces pointing towards each cardinal direction. Each face measures between 8 to 9 feet in diameter. Originally these clocks had a pendulum, 3000 lb bell, and were hand wound until 1925 when they were electrified. The clock faces and works were constructed by the E. Howard & Co.. [2]

During the 1990's the courthouse underwent an extensive $3 million dollar restoration. The brass railings to both the second and third floors are original to the structure, as well as the brass medallions below the bannisters. Also the ornately tiled floors and floral designed stained glass which adorns the courthouse are original to the 1888 construction. Additionally the imposing early Victorian woodwork is original. [2]

It currently houses the Clerk of Courts, Recorder's, Auditor's, Hancock County Common Pleas Court, Treasurer's offices, and Law Library.


References

  1. ^ a b c d e "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2007-06-30. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ a b c d e f WBGU-TV. Historic Courthouses of Northwest Ohio (VHS). Bowling Green, Ohio: Bowling Green State University. {{cite AV media}}: Unknown parameter |year2= ignored (help)
  3. ^ Humphrey, William (1961). Findlay: The Story of a Community, p. 123-125. Findlay Publishing Company, Findlay, Ohio.
  4. ^ Paulette Weiser (2007). Historic Hancock County: An Illustrated History, p. 30. Historical Publishing, San Antonio.
  5. ^ Paulette Weiser (2007). Historic Hancock County: An Illustrated History, p. 31. Historical Publishing, San Antonio.


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