Blackford County Courthouse
Encyclopedia
The Blackford County Courthouse is a Registered Historic Place
located in the Blackford County, Indiana
, county seat of Hartford City
. The building stands on a public square
in the city's downtown commercial district. Built during the Indiana Gas Boom
, most of the construction work on the current structure was completed in 1894. The current courthouse
was preceded by only one other building, which was declared inadequate by a judge in 1893. Following the condemnation of the original courthouse, the county’s judicial
activities were temporarily located in a building across the street. The original courthouse was torn down, and the new building was constructed on the same site.
The current courthouse was designed by architects Arthur LaBelle and Burt L. French, who were from nearby Marion, Indiana
. The building’s style of architecture is Richardsonian Romanesque
, which was popular during the second half of the 19th century. The huge corner tower of the building is easily the tallest structure in the downtown commercial district. One of the more magnificent buildings in the region, the courthouse is often pictured on web sites associated with the area.
In addition to the courthouse building, the buildings (and one of the monuments) around the courthouse square are also historic in nature and considered contributing properties to the Hartford City Courthouse Square Historic District
. The courthouse joined the Register in 1980 and was included as a contributing property to the historic district
in 2006. Most of the buildings in the Hartford City Courthouse Square Historic District continue to have facade
s that look similar to their original design. Although the interior has been remodeled, the exterior of the courthouse also continues to have its original appearance.
of Blackford County
in 1837, when the county was created. Despite being created in 1837, Blackford County was not organized until May, 1839. Indiana Governor David Wallace appointed Nicholas Friend as the new county’s sheriff, and elections were held soon thereafter. The log cabin homes of county officials served as county government buildings during the first year of the county’s existence. County affairs were first handled at the log cabin home of Andrew Boggs, which was located just north of Little Lick Creek in Licking Township
. This cabin was, in effect, the capital of Blackford County for about three months.
Among the first orders made by the new county government was a survey of 40 acres located to the north of Boggs’ cabin, parts of which had been donated for the purpose of housing the seat of government. A public square was to be located on one acre of land, on which the seat of justice was to be located. It was also ordered that the seat of justice was to be named Hartford. (Hartford City was originally known as "Hartford".) In September, 1839, the county commissioners met in the home of Jacob Emshwiller. For a few months, the Emshwiller home was the new capital of Blackford County.
Montpelier, Indiana
, is located in the northeastern portion of Blackford County, in Harrison Township
. In late 1839, the location of the county seat was contested, as the citizens of Montpelier believed their community would be a better location. The board of commissioners ruled against Montpelier in a January, 1840, session. In November, 1840, the board ordered the construction of a courthouse – which was to be located in Hartford. The plan was for a 25-feet square, two-story, “hewed-log” courthouse. The commissioners went into considerable detail describing the building. However, construction was delayed because of continuing controversy over the location (Hartford or Montpelier) of the county seat.
In 1841, the commissioners again settled on Hartford as the location for the county seat, and planning for Blackford County’s original courthouse began. On September 11, 1841, the Blackford County board of commissioners ordered that written proposals should be received to build a courthouse on the public square in the town of Hartford. The building was to be forty feet square, twenty-five feet high, and built of brick on a stone foundation. The contract for the building was let on December 7, 1841, and construction was supervised by Charles and William F. Jones. Total proposed cost for the courthouse was $5,600. Until, the courthouse was ready, rooms were rented from various members of the community for conducting county government. By May 1845, an arrangement was made for the upper floor to be used for court proceedings until the entire building was completed. Finally, in a special session held October 31, 1845, the board of commissioners found that the courthouse had been completed according to contract. Total cost for the courthouse building was $5,750,
The small community grew to a population of 250 by 1850, and it took 30 more years to get close to a population of 1,500. Early during that period, "Hartford" became known as "Hartford City" because another Hartford existed elsewhere in the state. In 1887, Hartford City Gas and Oil Company drilled Hartford City's first natural gas
well
, and Hartford City's participation in the Indiana Gas Boom
began. The area began a period of growth and prosperity as manufacturers moved to the region to utilize the low-cost energy.
An 1887 description of the courthouse called it "a plain building…its architecture characteristic of the pioneer times". It also said the building "is still good enough were it only in better repair." On January 19, 1893, Judge Joseph L. Custer declared the "courtroom to be an inadequate place for the transaction of the business of this court", and that court business "be held elsewhere in some suitable place in the county seat."
firm of LaBelle and French as architects for the new courthouse. Since the original courthouse was condemned, and Judge Custer (of the 48th Circuit Court of Indiana) refused to use it, arrangements were made to use the nearby opera house for courtroom proceedings until a new courthouse was available. On May 20, 1893, the old courthouse building was sold for $20, and removed from the grounds to enable construction of the new structure. Later in October, it was decided that the opera house could have theatrical conflicts, so rooms were rented at the newly built Briscoe Block building located on the south side of the courthouse square. Two rooms, with gas included, were rented for a total of $400 per year. One room would be for the circuit court, while the other was for the county clerk’s office.
On June 8, 1893, LaBelle and French provided the county commissioners with a complete plan for the new courthouse. The architects designed a monumental stone courthouse in the Richardsonian Romanesque
architectural style that was popular in the United States at that time. The four-story building measured 71 by 126 feet. It featured enormous arches on the northern and southern facade
s, semicircular towers on the east and west sides, and a 165 foot clock tower on the southwest corner.
Although the community planned to build the courthouse as a monument to the city’s (Gas Boom-related) prosperity, the commissioners were still concerned with costs. In late July 1893, the commissioners awarded the courthouse construction contract to the Fort Wayne firm of Boseker & Son. The price was cut to $97,000 by altering some of the architect’s specifications. The stone chosen for the building was Amherst Blue from quarry number 9 in Amherst, Ohio
. Work on the foundation was conducted in August, and the foundation stones were brought to town from Montpelier quarries located on the other side of the county.
On November 1, 1893, the city held a ceremony for the laying of the courthouse cornerstone
. The local Free and Accepted Masons
Lodge Number 106 ran the program. The ceremony included a parade, a welcome by prosecutor
J. A. Hindman, a Masonic ceremony, an address by Mason Past Grand Master Martin H. Rice, and an address by historian Benjamin G. Shinn.
Although a harsh winter sometimes made work difficult, construction of the courthouse progressed far enough that work on the huge arch
on the southern façade
began during February 1894. Around the same time, work to carve the frieze
above the second story was sublet to Gustave Steuber. Much of the carving work around the building's entrances was conducted under Mr. Steuber's direction. The building’s cornice
was finished in April, and nearly all of the structure’s stone was cut
by that time. By June, work was started on the clock tower
, and almost all of the roof was completed in August. The tower’s 4,000 pound clock arrived by rail in August from New Haven, Connecticut — although the tower was not ready to accommodate the timepiece until October. Installation of the clock was completed in November. By February 1895, the courthouse contractor considered the courthouse finished.
On February 27, 1895, county officials began moving into the new courthouse. Total cost for the new courthouse was $129,337.83. Most of that expense was paid to the contractor, Boseker and Son. Among other expenses included in the total were $2,000 paid to the E. Howard Clock Company
of Boston, $7,000 for furniture paid to the H. Ohmer and Sons Company, and $6,158.94 for architecture.
After the courthouse was completed, it was discovered that some modifications were needed for its plumbing and heating system. Outside of the courthouse, steps were also taken to beautify the surrounding grounds. Sidewalk
s were added, and eventually hitching racks
for horses. A war memorial was added to the northeast corner of the courthouse grounds in 1921, and this was the first of the major war memorials that occupy the corners of the courthouse lawn. A total of nine memorials, monuments and commemorative plaques have been added to the grounds within the courthouse square.
, firm known as LaBelle and French, the Blackford County courthouse is considered an excellent example of Richardsonian Romanesque
architecture. LaBelle and French also designed the White County
courthouse in Monticello, Indiana
; the Trumbull County
courthouse in Warren, Ohio
; and other buildings in the region. Listed December 31, 1974, the Trumbull County courthouse is also part of the National Register of Historic Places. Unfortunately, the White County courthouse was severely damaged by a “direct hit” from a 1974 tornado (rated as “EF4” using the Enhanced Fujita Scale
), and therefore demolished. LaBelle and French also designed one of Hartford City’s hotels, and one of the city's many glass factories.
variation of the Romanesque Revival
style of architecture – which later became known as Richardsonian Romanesque
. Constructed mostly during 1894, the four-story building features a 165-foot clock tower located on the southwest corner. The roof is a high pitched
hip roof
, and exterior walls are made from stone
.
The northern and southern facades of the structure are similar – each consisting of three bays
. The central bay is occupied by a massive round-arched portal
with enriched archivolt
s and a fan window
. From the ground-floor doorway to the top of the large central bay arch
measures about three stories high. A gable
d dormer rises above the central arch. The dormer
has three double-hung windows, and a central arched window resides above the middle. Each of the side bays had a set of windows for each floor, and the third floor windows are crowned with arched windows. (See south side photo herein.)
The huge clock tower is the main difference between the north and south facades. Located on the southwest corner of the courthouse, it is topped by a steeply-pitched roof with round corner piers
. Blind arcading
is used on the upper portion of the tower between the clock and the roof of the main portion of the building. Three rows of slit windows are utilized within the blind arcading. A clock can be seen on all four sides of the tower. An arch supported by Corinthian
pilaster
s houses the face of the clock.
The east and west sides of the courthouse are identical up to the roofline. The west side also has the corner clock tower, which appears on the right when viewing toward the east. Both east and west sides have six bays. The first, third, fourth, and sixth bays have dual windows on each floor. A fan window crowns the dual windows on the third floor. The second and fifth bays are occupied by semicircular towers that rise above the bottom of the main roofline. The towers have three main windows on each floor, and the third floor windows are crowned with transoms
that are crowned with fan windows. Above the towers’ third floor fan windows, near the top of the tower, are small arched windows resting above belt course
s. (See west side photo herein.)
As time has passed, renovations and updates have been made to the courthouse and surrounding grounds. In 1940, the hitching racks were removed, as automobiles had replaced horses as the preferred mode of transportation. Parking meter
s were added to the square in 1952. The building's stone exterior was refreshed by a sandblasting
treatment in 1963. Exterior spotlights were added during the 1980s. The latest project to refurbish the courthouse moved forward during 2010. On December 6, 2010, the county commissioners decided to proceed with a courthouse preservation project that was estimated to cost in excess of $325,000.
with marble
. Stairways to the second floor are located on both the north and south sides. The south side stairway continues from the second floor to the third floor. The north side of the third floor is occupied by the courtroom, and this room accounts for about half of the floor. The space adjacent to the north-south hallway on all three floors is used for offices with the exception of the third-floor courtroom and a small library. The fourth floor is unfinished and used for storage. From the fourth floor, one can ascend a narrow stairway to the top of the bell tower.
The three finished interior floors have been renovated, modernized, and updated since the original construction. One step in modernization occurred in 1965, when an elevator was installed in the building. Among various renovations, the second and third floors were updated around 1980. Currently, the first floor has carpeting, fluorescent lighting, and acoustic ceiling tiles. The north and south facades now have modern glass doors that form vestibules
at the entrances. The hallway ceilings have been molded with stenciling. Some painted scenes, which are not original to the building, can be found in the main hallway. One such scene includes a painting of the original courthouse surrounded by paintings of tablets representing each of the county's four townships, each with local scenes. (See photo herein.)
. In addition to the courthouse in the center of the square, each corner of the square is the site of a war memorial, including one that is considered a contributing property
to the Hartford City Courthouse Square Historic District. Additional memorials are also located on the grounds.
memorial. Consisting of a commemorative plaque
on a large stone, the memorial was placed in honor of Blackford County’s five Revolutionary War veteran
s buried within the county. A dedication ceremony was conducted on June 17, 1933, by the Nancy Knight Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution
. The dedicatory address was given by the Reverend H. C. Cornuelle, paster of the local First Presbyterian Church
. The stone was from the Twin Hills gravel pit
in nearby Jay County
.
memorial was unveiled on the northeast corner of the courthouse square on September 28, 1921, in a dedication ceremony with James Taylor, president of Taylor University
as the speaker. The memorial is a reproduction of a sculpture known as the “Spirit of the American Doughboy
”, which was created by Ernest Moore Viquesney
. Blackford County’s version of this sculpture was the third one erected. Beneath the Doughboy sculpture is a list of Blackford County residents that served in World War I. (See photo herein.)
memorial is located on the northwest corner of the courthouse square. Its dedication ceremony was held on May 30, 1950. City attorney Robert Bonham gave the dedication address. The monument lists over 1,880 names of veterans associated with Blackford County.
and Vietnam war
s is located on the southeast corner of the courthouse square. Congressman David Dennis
spoke at the 1973 dedication of this monument. The monument, originally contained a list of the county’s war dead from the two wars. It was expanded in 1987 to include all of the county’s veterans of the two wars. A tablet on the left of the monument lists veterans of the Korean War, while a tablet on the right side lists veterans of the Vietnam War.
monument is located on the southwest corner of the courthouse square. The Blackford County Civil War Re-enactment Club is responsible for the monument. The project began with a Memorial fund in 1997, and progressed for about 10 years to completion of the project. Construction of the monument began in 2004 with a granite base, pedestal, and walkway. A dedication for that portion of the monument was held on October 9, 2004. The sculpture of the civil war soldier was added a few years later. Stacks of black granite cannon balls were added to each corner of the monument in 2007. The monument recognizes all soldiers associated with Blackford County: soldiers who lived in the county at the start of the war, soldiers who enlisted in the county, soldiers buried in the county, and veterans who moved to the county after the war.
The H. C. Cornuelle Memorial Marker in 1936. The Reverend Herbert C. Cornuelle served in World War I as an chaplain in the United States Army. After the war, the American Legion
named him chaplain for the state of Indiana. He also became the minister of Hartford City’s First Presbyterian Church – serving from 1928 until 1936. During Work War I, Cornuelle suffered permanent injury from a gas attack, and his injury contributed to his death from pneumonia on April 21, 1936.
A Bicentennial Capsule Marker was also added in 1936. Many years later, a Blackford County Courthouse Cornerstone Rededication Marker was added in a ceremony on November 13, 1993. The Free and Accepted Masons conducted the ceremony, and a time capsule was presented by the presidents of the Blackford County Historical Society and the Montpelier Historical Society.
A Blackford County Courthouse Historical Marker (see photo in history section) was placed on October 1, 1994, by the Indiana Historical Bureau and the Blackford Lodge #106 of the Free and Accepted Masons.
in the Hartford City Courthouse Square Historic District's listing on the National Register. On its original National Register nomination form, the building was cited as significant in the areas of "architecture" and "politics/government." The courthouse has been “the focus of governmental, political and civic affairs,” and “its size and architecture dominate” downtown Hartford City. In addition, the war memorials on the courthouse grounds contribute to the sense of time and place that the Hartford City Courthouse Historic District conveys.
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
located in the Blackford County, Indiana
Blackford County, Indiana
Blackford County is located in the east central portion of the U.S. state of Indiana. The county is named for Judge Isaac Blackford, who was the first speaker of the Indiana General Assembly and a long-time chief justice of the Indiana Supreme Court. Created in 1838, Blackford County is divided...
, county seat of Hartford City
Hartford City, Indiana
Hartford City is a city in the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Blackford County. Located in the northeast central portion of the state, the small farming community experienced a 15-year “boom” beginning in the late 1880s...
. The building stands on a public square
Town square
A town square is an open public space commonly found in the heart of a traditional town used for community gatherings. Other names for town square are civic center, city square, urban square, market square, public square, and town green.Most town squares are hardscapes suitable for open markets,...
in the city's downtown commercial district. Built during the Indiana Gas Boom
Indiana Gas Boom
The Indiana Gas Boom was a period of active drilling and production of natural gas in the Trenton Gas Field, in the US state of Indiana and the adjacent northwest part of Ohio The boom began in the early 1880s and lasted into the early twentieth century....
, most of the construction work on the current structure was completed in 1894. The current courthouse
Courthouse
A courthouse is a building that is home to a local court of law and often the regional county government as well, although this is not the case in some larger cities. The term is common in North America. In most other English speaking countries, buildings which house courts of law are simply...
was preceded by only one other building, which was declared inadequate by a judge in 1893. Following the condemnation of the original courthouse, the county’s judicial
Judiciary
The judiciary is the system of courts that interprets and applies the law in the name of the state. The judiciary also provides a mechanism for the resolution of disputes...
activities were temporarily located in a building across the street. The original courthouse was torn down, and the new building was constructed on the same site.
The current courthouse was designed by architects Arthur LaBelle and Burt L. French, who were from nearby Marion, Indiana
Marion, Indiana
Marion is a city in Grant County, Indiana, United States. The population was 29,948 as of the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Grant County...
. The building’s style of architecture is Richardsonian Romanesque
Richardsonian Romanesque
Richardsonian Romanesque is a style of Romanesque Revival architecture named after architect Henry Hobson Richardson, whose masterpiece is Trinity Church, Boston , designated a National Historic Landmark...
, which was popular during the second half of the 19th century. The huge corner tower of the building is easily the tallest structure in the downtown commercial district. One of the more magnificent buildings in the region, the courthouse is often pictured on web sites associated with the area.
In addition to the courthouse building, the buildings (and one of the monuments) around the courthouse square are also historic in nature and considered contributing properties to the Hartford City Courthouse Square Historic District
Hartford City Courthouse Square Historic District
The Hartford City Courthouse Square Historic District is located in Hartford City, Indiana. Hartford City has a population of about 7,000 and is the county seat of Blackford County and the site of the county courthouse...
. The courthouse joined the Register in 1980 and was included as a contributing property to the historic district
Historic district
A historic district or heritage district is a section of a city which contains older buildings considered valuable for historical or architectural reasons. In some countries, historic districts receive legal protection from development....
in 2006. Most of the buildings in the Hartford City Courthouse Square Historic District continue to have facade
Facade
A facade or façade is generally one exterior side of a building, usually, but not always, the front. The word comes from the French language, literally meaning "frontage" or "face"....
s that look similar to their original design. Although the interior has been remodeled, the exterior of the courthouse also continues to have its original appearance.
History
The small village that eventually became named Hartford City was designated county seatCounty seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Blackford County
Blackford County, Indiana
Blackford County is located in the east central portion of the U.S. state of Indiana. The county is named for Judge Isaac Blackford, who was the first speaker of the Indiana General Assembly and a long-time chief justice of the Indiana Supreme Court. Created in 1838, Blackford County is divided...
in 1837, when the county was created. Despite being created in 1837, Blackford County was not organized until May, 1839. Indiana Governor David Wallace appointed Nicholas Friend as the new county’s sheriff, and elections were held soon thereafter. The log cabin homes of county officials served as county government buildings during the first year of the county’s existence. County affairs were first handled at the log cabin home of Andrew Boggs, which was located just north of Little Lick Creek in Licking Township
Licking Township, Blackford County, Indiana
Licking Township is one of four townships in Blackford County, Indiana. As of the 2000 census, its population was 8,689. The township was named after Lick Creek and a salt lick in the area. The first settlers in what became Blackford County arrived in the Lick Creek area in...
. This cabin was, in effect, the capital of Blackford County for about three months.
Among the first orders made by the new county government was a survey of 40 acres located to the north of Boggs’ cabin, parts of which had been donated for the purpose of housing the seat of government. A public square was to be located on one acre of land, on which the seat of justice was to be located. It was also ordered that the seat of justice was to be named Hartford. (Hartford City was originally known as "Hartford".) In September, 1839, the county commissioners met in the home of Jacob Emshwiller. For a few months, the Emshwiller home was the new capital of Blackford County.
Montpelier, Indiana
Montpelier, Indiana
Montpelier is an American city in Blackford County, Indiana. This small rural community, the county’s first to be platted, was established by settlers from Vermont, and is named after Vermont’s capital city – Montpelier....
, is located in the northeastern portion of Blackford County, in Harrison Township
Harrison Township, Blackford County, Indiana
Harrison Township is one of four townships in Blackford County, Indiana. As of the 2000 census, its population was 2,940. The township was named after William Henry Harrison, hero of the Battle of Tippecanoe, former governor of the Indiana Territory, and 9th President of the United...
. In late 1839, the location of the county seat was contested, as the citizens of Montpelier believed their community would be a better location. The board of commissioners ruled against Montpelier in a January, 1840, session. In November, 1840, the board ordered the construction of a courthouse – which was to be located in Hartford. The plan was for a 25-feet square, two-story, “hewed-log” courthouse. The commissioners went into considerable detail describing the building. However, construction was delayed because of continuing controversy over the location (Hartford or Montpelier) of the county seat.
Original courthouse
The small community grew to a population of 250 by 1850, and it took 30 more years to get close to a population of 1,500. Early during that period, "Hartford" became known as "Hartford City" because another Hartford existed elsewhere in the state. In 1887, Hartford City Gas and Oil Company drilled Hartford City's first natural gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
well
Oil well
An oil well is a general term for any boring through the earth's surface that is designed to find and acquire petroleum oil hydrocarbons. Usually some natural gas is produced along with the oil. A well that is designed to produce mainly or only gas may be termed a gas well.-History:The earliest...
, and Hartford City's participation in the Indiana Gas Boom
Indiana Gas Boom
The Indiana Gas Boom was a period of active drilling and production of natural gas in the Trenton Gas Field, in the US state of Indiana and the adjacent northwest part of Ohio The boom began in the early 1880s and lasted into the early twentieth century....
began. The area began a period of growth and prosperity as manufacturers moved to the region to utilize the low-cost energy.
An 1887 description of the courthouse called it "a plain building…its architecture characteristic of the pioneer times". It also said the building "is still good enough were it only in better repair." On January 19, 1893, Judge Joseph L. Custer declared the "courtroom to be an inadequate place for the transaction of the business of this court", and that court business "be held elsewhere in some suitable place in the county seat."
Current courthouse
The county commissioners responded in March, 1893, to the Judge’s declaration that the (original) courthouse was inadequate. The three commissioners, T. T. McGeath, I. L. Hughs, and A. W. Miles, ordered that a new courthouse was necessary. A week later, they engaged the MarionMarion, Indiana
Marion is a city in Grant County, Indiana, United States. The population was 29,948 as of the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Grant County...
firm of LaBelle and French as architects for the new courthouse. Since the original courthouse was condemned, and Judge Custer (of the 48th Circuit Court of Indiana) refused to use it, arrangements were made to use the nearby opera house for courtroom proceedings until a new courthouse was available. On May 20, 1893, the old courthouse building was sold for $20, and removed from the grounds to enable construction of the new structure. Later in October, it was decided that the opera house could have theatrical conflicts, so rooms were rented at the newly built Briscoe Block building located on the south side of the courthouse square. Two rooms, with gas included, were rented for a total of $400 per year. One room would be for the circuit court, while the other was for the county clerk’s office.
On June 8, 1893, LaBelle and French provided the county commissioners with a complete plan for the new courthouse. The architects designed a monumental stone courthouse in the Richardsonian Romanesque
Richardsonian Romanesque
Richardsonian Romanesque is a style of Romanesque Revival architecture named after architect Henry Hobson Richardson, whose masterpiece is Trinity Church, Boston , designated a National Historic Landmark...
architectural style that was popular in the United States at that time. The four-story building measured 71 by 126 feet. It featured enormous arches on the northern and southern facade
Facade
A facade or façade is generally one exterior side of a building, usually, but not always, the front. The word comes from the French language, literally meaning "frontage" or "face"....
s, semicircular towers on the east and west sides, and a 165 foot clock tower on the southwest corner.
Although the community planned to build the courthouse as a monument to the city’s (Gas Boom-related) prosperity, the commissioners were still concerned with costs. In late July 1893, the commissioners awarded the courthouse construction contract to the Fort Wayne firm of Boseker & Son. The price was cut to $97,000 by altering some of the architect’s specifications. The stone chosen for the building was Amherst Blue from quarry number 9 in Amherst, Ohio
Amherst, Ohio
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 11,797 people, 4,459 households, and 3,388 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,646.1 people per square mile . There were 4,603 housing units at an average density of 642.3 per square mile...
. Work on the foundation was conducted in August, and the foundation stones were brought to town from Montpelier quarries located on the other side of the county.
On November 1, 1893, the city held a ceremony for the laying of the courthouse cornerstone
Cornerstone
The cornerstone concept is derived from the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation, important since all other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire structure.Over time a cornerstone became a ceremonial masonry stone, or...
. The local Free and Accepted Masons
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
Lodge Number 106 ran the program. The ceremony included a parade, a welcome by prosecutor
Prosecutor
The prosecutor is the chief legal representative of the prosecution in countries with either the common law adversarial system, or the civil law inquisitorial system...
J. A. Hindman, a Masonic ceremony, an address by Mason Past Grand Master Martin H. Rice, and an address by historian Benjamin G. Shinn.
Although a harsh winter sometimes made work difficult, construction of the courthouse progressed far enough that work on the huge arch
Arch
An arch is a structure that spans a space and supports a load. Arches appeared as early as the 2nd millennium BC in Mesopotamian brick architecture and their systematic use started with the Ancient Romans who were the first to apply the technique to a wide range of structures.-Technical aspects:The...
on the southern façade
Facade
A facade or façade is generally one exterior side of a building, usually, but not always, the front. The word comes from the French language, literally meaning "frontage" or "face"....
began during February 1894. Around the same time, work to carve the frieze
Frieze
thumb|267px|Frieze of the [[Tower of the Winds]], AthensIn architecture the frieze is the wide central section part of an entablature and may be plain in the Ionic or Doric order, or decorated with bas-reliefs. Even when neither columns nor pilasters are expressed, on an astylar wall it lies upon...
above the second story was sublet to Gustave Steuber. Much of the carving work around the building's entrances was conducted under Mr. Steuber's direction. The building’s cornice
Cornice
Cornice molding is generally any horizontal decorative molding that crowns any building or furniture element: the cornice over a door or window, for instance, or the cornice around the edge of a pedestal. A simple cornice may be formed just with a crown molding.The function of the projecting...
was finished in April, and nearly all of the structure’s stone was cut
Stone carving
Stone carving is an ancient activity where pieces of rough natural stone are shaped by the controlled removal of stone. Owing to the permanence of the material, evidence can be found that even the earliest societies indulged in some form of stone work....
by that time. By June, work was started on the clock tower
Clock tower
A clock tower is a tower specifically built with one or more clock faces. Clock towers can be either freestanding or part of a church or municipal building such as a town hall. Some clock towers are not true clock towers having had their clock faces added to an already existing building...
, and almost all of the roof was completed in August. The tower’s 4,000 pound clock arrived by rail in August from New Haven, Connecticut — although the tower was not ready to accommodate the timepiece until October. Installation of the clock was completed in November. By February 1895, the courthouse contractor considered the courthouse finished.
On February 27, 1895, county officials began moving into the new courthouse. Total cost for the new courthouse was $129,337.83. Most of that expense was paid to the contractor, Boseker and Son. Among other expenses included in the total were $2,000 paid to the E. Howard Clock Company
E. Howard & Co.
thumb|Street clock by E. Howard & Co.The E. Howard & Co. clock and watch company was formed by Edward Howard and Charles Rice in 1858 after the demise of the Boston Watch Company...
of Boston, $7,000 for furniture paid to the H. Ohmer and Sons Company, and $6,158.94 for architecture.
After the courthouse was completed, it was discovered that some modifications were needed for its plumbing and heating system. Outside of the courthouse, steps were also taken to beautify the surrounding grounds. Sidewalk
Sidewalk
A sidewalk, or pavement, footpath, footway, and sometimes platform, is a path along the side of a road. A sidewalk may accommodate moderate changes in grade and is normally separated from the vehicular section by a curb...
s were added, and eventually hitching racks
Hitching post
A hitching post is a post to which a horse may be tethered to prevent it from straying. The term can also refer to:* The "hitching post", a contentious punishment in the case of Hope v...
for horses. A war memorial was added to the northeast corner of the courthouse grounds in 1921, and this was the first of the major war memorials that occupy the corners of the courthouse lawn. A total of nine memorials, monuments and commemorative plaques have been added to the grounds within the courthouse square.
Architecture
Designed by the Marion, IndianaMarion, Indiana
Marion is a city in Grant County, Indiana, United States. The population was 29,948 as of the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of Grant County...
, firm known as LaBelle and French, the Blackford County courthouse is considered an excellent example of Richardsonian Romanesque
Richardsonian Romanesque
Richardsonian Romanesque is a style of Romanesque Revival architecture named after architect Henry Hobson Richardson, whose masterpiece is Trinity Church, Boston , designated a National Historic Landmark...
architecture. LaBelle and French also designed the White County
White County, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 25,267 people, 9,727 households, and 7,090 families residing in the county. The population density was 50 people per square mile . There were 12,083 housing units at an average density of 24 per square mile...
courthouse in Monticello, Indiana
Monticello, Indiana
Monticello is a city in White County, Indiana, United States. The population was 5,378 at the 2010 census. The city is the county seat of White County....
; the Trumbull County
Trumbull County, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 225,116 people, 89,020 households, and 61,690 families residing in the county. The population density was 365 people per square mile . There were 95,117 housing units at an average density of 154 per square mile...
courthouse in Warren, Ohio
Warren, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 46,832 people, 19,288 households and 12,035 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,912.4 people per square mile . There were 21,279 housing units at an average density of 1,322.9 per square mile...
; and other buildings in the region. Listed December 31, 1974, the Trumbull County courthouse is also part of the National Register of Historic Places. Unfortunately, the White County courthouse was severely damaged by a “direct hit” from a 1974 tornado (rated as “EF4” using the Enhanced Fujita Scale
Enhanced Fujita Scale
The Enhanced Fujita Scale rates the strength of tornadoes in the United States based on the damage they cause.Implemented in place of the Fujita scale introduced in 1971 by Ted Fujita, it began operational use on February 1, 2007. The scale has the same basic design as the original Fujita scale:...
), and therefore demolished. LaBelle and French also designed one of Hartford City’s hotels, and one of the city's many glass factories.
Exterior
The courthouse was built using Henry Hobson Richardson'sHenry Hobson Richardson
Henry Hobson Richardson was a prominent American architect who designed buildings in Albany, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Pittsburgh, and other cities. The style he popularized is named for him: Richardsonian Romanesque...
variation of the Romanesque Revival
Romanesque Revival architecture
Romanesque Revival is a style of building employed beginning in the mid 19th century inspired by the 11th and 12th century Romanesque architecture...
style of architecture – which later became known as Richardsonian Romanesque
Richardsonian Romanesque
Richardsonian Romanesque is a style of Romanesque Revival architecture named after architect Henry Hobson Richardson, whose masterpiece is Trinity Church, Boston , designated a National Historic Landmark...
. Constructed mostly during 1894, the four-story building features a 165-foot clock tower located on the southwest corner. The roof is a high pitched
Roof pitch
In building construction, roof pitch is a numerical measure of the steepness of a roof, and a pitched roof is a roof that is steep.The roof's pitch is the measured vertical rise divided by the measured horizontal span, the same thing as what is called "slope" in geometry. Roof pitch is typically...
hip roof
Hip roof
A hip roof, or hipped roof, is a type of roof where all sides slope downwards to the walls, usually with a fairly gentle slope. Thus it is a house with no gables or other vertical sides to the roof. A square hip roof is shaped like a pyramid. Hip roofs on the houses could have two triangular side...
, and exterior walls are made from stone
Stone wall
Stone walls are a kind of masonry construction which have been made for thousands of years. First they were constructed by farmers and primitive people by piling loose field stones in what is called a dry stone wall, then later with the use of mortar and plaster especially in the construction of...
.
The northern and southern facades of the structure are similar – each consisting of three bays
Bay (architecture)
A bay is a unit of form in architecture. This unit is defined as the zone between the outer edges of an engaged column, pilaster, or post; or within a window frame, doorframe, or vertical 'bas relief' wall form.-Defining elements:...
. The central bay is occupied by a massive round-arched portal
Portal (architecture)
Portal is a general term describing an opening in the walls of a building, gate or fortification, and especially a grand entrance to an important structure. Doors, metal gates or portcullis in the opening can be used to control entry or exit. The surface surrounding the opening may be made of...
with enriched archivolt
Archivolt
An archivolt is an ornamental molding or band following the curve on the underside of an arch. It is composed of bands of ornamental moldings surrounding an arched opening, corresponding to the architrave in the case of a rectangular opening...
s and a fan window
Window
A window is a transparent or translucent opening in a wall or door that allows the passage of light and, if not closed or sealed, air and sound. Windows are usually glazed or covered in some other transparent or translucent material like float glass. Windows are held in place by frames, which...
. From the ground-floor doorway to the top of the large central bay arch
Arch
An arch is a structure that spans a space and supports a load. Arches appeared as early as the 2nd millennium BC in Mesopotamian brick architecture and their systematic use started with the Ancient Romans who were the first to apply the technique to a wide range of structures.-Technical aspects:The...
measures about three stories high. A gable
Gable
A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of a sloping roof. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system being used and aesthetic concerns. Thus the type of roof enclosing the volume dictates the shape of the gable...
d dormer rises above the central arch. The dormer
Dormer
A dormer is a structural element of a building that protrudes from the plane of a sloping roof surface. Dormers are used, either in original construction or as later additions, to create usable space in the roof of a building by adding headroom and usually also by enabling addition of windows.Often...
has three double-hung windows, and a central arched window resides above the middle. Each of the side bays had a set of windows for each floor, and the third floor windows are crowned with arched windows. (See south side photo herein.)
The huge clock tower is the main difference between the north and south facades. Located on the southwest corner of the courthouse, it is topped by a steeply-pitched roof with round corner piers
Pier (architecture)
In architecture, a pier is an upright support for a superstructure, such as an arch or bridge. Sections of wall between openings function as piers. The simplest cross section of the pier is square, or rectangular, although other shapes are also common, such as the richly articulated piers of Donato...
. Blind arcading
Blind arcade
A blind arcade is an arcade that is composed of a series of arches that has no actual openings and that is applied to the surface of a wall as a decorative element: i.e. the arches are not windows or openings but are part of the masonry face. It is designed as an ornamental architectural element,...
is used on the upper portion of the tower between the clock and the roof of the main portion of the building. Three rows of slit windows are utilized within the blind arcading. A clock can be seen on all four sides of the tower. An arch supported by Corinthian
Corinthian order
The Corinthian order is one of the three principal classical orders of ancient Greek and Roman architecture. The other two are the Doric and Ionic. When classical architecture was revived during the Renaissance, two more orders were added to the canon, the Tuscan order and the Composite order...
pilaster
Pilaster
A pilaster is a slightly-projecting column built into or applied to the face of a wall. Most commonly flattened or rectangular in form, pilasters can also take a half-round form or the shape of any type of column, including tortile....
s houses the face of the clock.
The east and west sides of the courthouse are identical up to the roofline. The west side also has the corner clock tower, which appears on the right when viewing toward the east. Both east and west sides have six bays. The first, third, fourth, and sixth bays have dual windows on each floor. A fan window crowns the dual windows on the third floor. The second and fifth bays are occupied by semicircular towers that rise above the bottom of the main roofline. The towers have three main windows on each floor, and the third floor windows are crowned with transoms
Transom (architectural)
In architecture, a transom is the term given to a transverse beam or bar in a frame, or to the crosspiece separating a door or the like from a window or fanlight above it. Transom is also the customary U.S. word used for a transom light, the window over this crosspiece...
that are crowned with fan windows. Above the towers’ third floor fan windows, near the top of the tower, are small arched windows resting above belt course
Belt course
A belt course is a continuous row or layer of stones, tile, brick, shingles, etc. in a wall. The Romanesque style of architecture is notable for the use of belt courses. Similar to a belt course is an entablature which runs along the top of a row columns instead of along a wall....
s. (See west side photo herein.)
As time has passed, renovations and updates have been made to the courthouse and surrounding grounds. In 1940, the hitching racks were removed, as automobiles had replaced horses as the preferred mode of transportation. Parking meter
Parking meter
A parking meter is a device used to collect money in exchange for the right to park a vehicle in a particular place for a limited amount of time. Parking meters can be used by municipalities as a tool for enforcing their integrated on-street parking policy, usually related to their traffic and...
s were added to the square in 1952. The building's stone exterior was refreshed by a sandblasting
Abrasive blasting
Abrasive blasting is the operation of forcibly propelling a stream of abrasive material against a surface under high pressure to smooth a rough surface, roughen a smooth surface, shape a surface, or remove surface contaminants. A pressurized fluid, typically air, or a centrifugal wheel is used to...
treatment in 1963. Exterior spotlights were added during the 1980s. The latest project to refurbish the courthouse moved forward during 2010. On December 6, 2010, the county commissioners decided to proceed with a courthouse preservation project that was estimated to cost in excess of $325,000.
Interior
The interior of the Blackford County courthouse has a twenty-two feet wide main hallway that runs between the northern and southern facades. The original floors were tiled, and the walls were wainscotedPanelling
Panelling is a wall covering constructed from rigid or semi-rigid components. These are traditionally interlocking wood, but could be plastic or other materials....
with marble
Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone; however stonemasons use the term more broadly to encompass unmetamorphosed limestone.Marble is commonly used for...
. Stairways to the second floor are located on both the north and south sides. The south side stairway continues from the second floor to the third floor. The north side of the third floor is occupied by the courtroom, and this room accounts for about half of the floor. The space adjacent to the north-south hallway on all three floors is used for offices with the exception of the third-floor courtroom and a small library. The fourth floor is unfinished and used for storage. From the fourth floor, one can ascend a narrow stairway to the top of the bell tower.
The three finished interior floors have been renovated, modernized, and updated since the original construction. One step in modernization occurred in 1965, when an elevator was installed in the building. Among various renovations, the second and third floors were updated around 1980. Currently, the first floor has carpeting, fluorescent lighting, and acoustic ceiling tiles. The north and south facades now have modern glass doors that form vestibules
Vestibule (architecture)
A vestibule is a lobby, entrance hall, or passage between the entrance and the interior of a building.The same term can apply to structures in modern or ancient roman architecture. In modern architecture vestibule typically refers to a small room or hall between an entrance and the interior of...
at the entrances. The hallway ceilings have been molded with stenciling. Some painted scenes, which are not original to the building, can be found in the main hallway. One such scene includes a painting of the original courthouse surrounded by paintings of tablets representing each of the county's four townships, each with local scenes. (See photo herein.)
Other features
The public square where the Blackford County Courthouse stands is the heart of the Hartford City Courthouse Square Historic DistrictHartford City Courthouse Square Historic District
The Hartford City Courthouse Square Historic District is located in Hartford City, Indiana. Hartford City has a population of about 7,000 and is the county seat of Blackford County and the site of the county courthouse...
. In addition to the courthouse in the center of the square, each corner of the square is the site of a war memorial, including one that is considered a contributing property
Contributing property
In the law regulating historic districts in the United States, a contributing resource or contributing property is any building, structure, or object which adds to the historical integrity or architectural qualities that make the historic district, listed locally or federally, significant...
to the Hartford City Courthouse Square Historic District. Additional memorials are also located on the grounds.
Revolutionary War Memorial
On the southwest corner of the courthouse stands the county’s Revolutionary WarAmerican Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
memorial. Consisting of a commemorative plaque
Commemorative plaque
A commemorative plaque, or simply plaque, is a plate of metal, ceramic, stone, wood, or other material, typically attached to a wall, stone, or other vertical surface, and bearing text in memory of an important figure or event...
on a large stone, the memorial was placed in honor of Blackford County’s five Revolutionary War veteran
Veteran
A veteran is a person who has had long service or experience in a particular occupation or field; " A veteran of ..."...
s buried within the county. A dedication ceremony was conducted on June 17, 1933, by the Nancy Knight Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution
Daughters of the American Revolution
The Daughters of the American Revolution is a lineage-based membership organization for women who are descended from a person involved in United States' independence....
. The dedicatory address was given by the Reverend H. C. Cornuelle, paster of the local First Presbyterian Church
First Presbyterian Church (Hartford City, Indiana)
The First Presbyterian Church of Hartford City is an American church located in Hartford City, Indiana. The edifice is the oldest church building in a small city that at one time was a bustling community with as many as ten glass factories – and over 20 saloons...
. The stone was from the Twin Hills gravel pit
Gravel pit
Gravel pit is the term for an open cast working for extraction of gravel. Gravel pits often lie in river valleys where the water table is high, so they may fill naturally with water to form ponds or lakes. Old, abandoned gravel pits are normally used either as nature reserves, or as amenity areas...
in nearby Jay County
Jay County, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 21,806 people, 8,405 households, and 6,017 families residing in the county. The population density was 57 people per square mile . There were 9,074 housing units at an average density of 24 per square mile...
.
World War I Memorial
Blackford County’s World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
memorial was unveiled on the northeast corner of the courthouse square on September 28, 1921, in a dedication ceremony with James Taylor, president of Taylor University
Taylor University
Taylor University is a private, interdenominational, evangelical Christian college located in Upland, Indiana. Founded in 1846, it is one of the oldest evangelical Christian colleges in America....
as the speaker. The memorial is a reproduction of a sculpture known as the “Spirit of the American Doughboy
Spirit of the American Doughboy
The Spirit of the American Doughboy is a pressed copper sculpture by E. M. Viquesney, designed to honor the veterans and casualties of World War I...
”, which was created by Ernest Moore Viquesney
E. M. Viquesney
Ernest Moore Viquesney American sculptor best known for his very popular World War I monument Spirit of the American Doughboy, installed in front of many American city halls and courthouses and in public parks and cemeteries in the years 1920 through 1940...
. Blackford County’s version of this sculpture was the third one erected. Beneath the Doughboy sculpture is a list of Blackford County residents that served in World War I. (See photo herein.)
World War II Memorial
Blackford County’s World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
memorial is located on the northwest corner of the courthouse square. Its dedication ceremony was held on May 30, 1950. City attorney Robert Bonham gave the dedication address. The monument lists over 1,880 names of veterans associated with Blackford County.
Korea and Vietnam War Memorial
Blackford County’s monument to veterans of the KoreanKorean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
and Vietnam war
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
s is located on the southeast corner of the courthouse square. Congressman David Dennis
David W. Dennis
David Worth Dennis II was an attorney and Republican United States Representative from Indiana.He was born in Washington, D.C. and was named for his grandfather, David Worth Dennis who had been a professor at Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana. His father, William Cullen Dennis was president of...
spoke at the 1973 dedication of this monument. The monument, originally contained a list of the county’s war dead from the two wars. It was expanded in 1987 to include all of the county’s veterans of the two wars. A tablet on the left of the monument lists veterans of the Korean War, while a tablet on the right side lists veterans of the Vietnam War.
Monument to Veterans of the Civil War
Blackford County’s Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
monument is located on the southwest corner of the courthouse square. The Blackford County Civil War Re-enactment Club is responsible for the monument. The project began with a Memorial fund in 1997, and progressed for about 10 years to completion of the project. Construction of the monument began in 2004 with a granite base, pedestal, and walkway. A dedication for that portion of the monument was held on October 9, 2004. The sculpture of the civil war soldier was added a few years later. Stacks of black granite cannon balls were added to each corner of the monument in 2007. The monument recognizes all soldiers associated with Blackford County: soldiers who lived in the county at the start of the war, soldiers who enlisted in the county, soldiers buried in the county, and veterans who moved to the county after the war.
Other monuments and commemorative plaques
The Blackford County courthouse lawn is also the site of some smaller commemorative plaques. An early addition was the Orville Whitacre Memorial Marker, which was added in 1922.The H. C. Cornuelle Memorial Marker in 1936. The Reverend Herbert C. Cornuelle served in World War I as an chaplain in the United States Army. After the war, the American Legion
American Legion
The American Legion is a mutual-aid organization of veterans of the United States armed forces chartered by the United States Congress. It was founded to benefit those veterans who served during a wartime period as defined by Congress...
named him chaplain for the state of Indiana. He also became the minister of Hartford City’s First Presbyterian Church – serving from 1928 until 1936. During Work War I, Cornuelle suffered permanent injury from a gas attack, and his injury contributed to his death from pneumonia on April 21, 1936.
A Bicentennial Capsule Marker was also added in 1936. Many years later, a Blackford County Courthouse Cornerstone Rededication Marker was added in a ceremony on November 13, 1993. The Free and Accepted Masons conducted the ceremony, and a time capsule was presented by the presidents of the Blackford County Historical Society and the Montpelier Historical Society.
A Blackford County Courthouse Historical Marker (see photo in history section) was placed on October 1, 1994, by the Indiana Historical Bureau and the Blackford Lodge #106 of the Free and Accepted Masons.
Significance
The Blackford County Courthouse was added to National Register of Historic Places on August 11, 1980. On June 21, 2006, its historic importance was reasserted when it was included as a contributing propertyContributing property
In the law regulating historic districts in the United States, a contributing resource or contributing property is any building, structure, or object which adds to the historical integrity or architectural qualities that make the historic district, listed locally or federally, significant...
in the Hartford City Courthouse Square Historic District's listing on the National Register. On its original National Register nomination form, the building was cited as significant in the areas of "architecture" and "politics/government." The courthouse has been “the focus of governmental, political and civic affairs,” and “its size and architecture dominate” downtown Hartford City. In addition, the war memorials on the courthouse grounds contribute to the sense of time and place that the Hartford City Courthouse Historic District conveys.
See also
- Hartford City Courthouse Square Historic DistrictHartford City Courthouse Square Historic DistrictThe Hartford City Courthouse Square Historic District is located in Hartford City, Indiana. Hartford City has a population of about 7,000 and is the county seat of Blackford County and the site of the county courthouse...
- List of properties in Hartford City Courthouse Square Historic District
- History of Hartford City, IndianaHistory of Hartford City, IndianaHartford City, Indiana, began in the late 1830s as a few log cabins clustered near a creek. The community became the county seat of Blackford County. Located in the north east-central portion of the state, the small farming community experienced a 15-year "boom" beginning in the late 1880s caused...
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Blackford County, IndianaNational Register of Historic Places listings in Blackford County, IndianaThis is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Blackford County, Indiana.This is intended to be a complete list of the properties and districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Blackford County, Indiana, United States...
- Blackford County, IndianaBlackford County, IndianaBlackford County is located in the east central portion of the U.S. state of Indiana. The county is named for Judge Isaac Blackford, who was the first speaker of the Indiana General Assembly and a long-time chief justice of the Indiana Supreme Court. Created in 1838, Blackford County is divided...