Brown County Courthouse (Ohio)
Encyclopedia
The Brown County Courthouse is located at 101 South Main Street in Georgetown, Ohio
. The courthouse is the centerpiece of Georgetown and is included in the Georgetown Historic District
.
was formed in 1818 and the county seat was placed in Ripley
. A courthouse was started in 1821 but the county seat was moved to Bridgewater and then to Georgetown
. The courthouse was constructed in 1823 and was a simple square structure made of red brick and a hipped roof. This courthouse was soon decided to be to small for the population and the county selected a plan from Hubbard Baker in March 1849.
The building is a fine representation of Greek Revival architecture
and was completed in 1851. Wings extending from the courthouse were added in 1914 for extra room. A fire started by an arsonist swept through the courthouse in 1977 and was determined to be started in the northern stairwell and the judge's chambers. Nobody has ever been accused or convicted of the crime. The county was placed with the decision to tear down the burnt husk and start anew or to repair the structure. After a vote, the county decided to repair the structure to its pre-fire condition. Local citizens banded together to form the Brown County Courthouse Reconstruction Association to help repair the building. The courthouse was re-dedicated in 1982 to much ceremony.
, Doric pilaster
s are found along the buildings walls. The roof aboves the entrance resembles a pediment
but is actually a gable
. The two wings also contain entrances but the door is not recessed like the main entrance. Two stacked rectangular drums protrude from the center of the building with an octagon drum supporting the dome. A four faced clock protrudes from the sides of the final drum.
ers enter town in 1863. The band gathered in front of the courthouse and hitched their horses for their short stay. There was no skirmish but a soldier on leave was shot and several horses and valuables went missing.
Georgetown, Ohio
Georgetown is a village in Brown County, Ohio, United States. The population was 3,691 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Brown County. Georgetown was the childhood home of Ulysses S...
. The courthouse is the centerpiece of Georgetown and is included in the Georgetown Historic District
Georgetown Historic District (Georgetown, Ohio)
The Georgetown Historic District in Georgetown, Ohio is a historic district that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. It includes 42 contributing buildings.One contributing property in the district is the Brown County Courthouse....
.
History
Brown CountyBrown County, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 42,285 people, 15,555 households, and 11,790 families residing in the county. The population density was 86 people per square mile . There were 17,193 housing units at an average density of 35 per square mile...
was formed in 1818 and the county seat was placed in Ripley
Ripley, Ohio
Ripley is a village in Brown County, Ohio, United States, along the Ohio River 50 miles southeast of Cincinnati. The population was 1,745 at the 2000 census.-History:...
. A courthouse was started in 1821 but the county seat was moved to Bridgewater and then to Georgetown
Georgetown, Ohio
Georgetown is a village in Brown County, Ohio, United States. The population was 3,691 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Brown County. Georgetown was the childhood home of Ulysses S...
. The courthouse was constructed in 1823 and was a simple square structure made of red brick and a hipped roof. This courthouse was soon decided to be to small for the population and the county selected a plan from Hubbard Baker in March 1849.
The building is a fine representation of Greek Revival architecture
Greek Revival architecture
The Greek Revival was an architectural movement of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, predominantly in Northern Europe and the United States. A product of Hellenism, it may be looked upon as the last phase in the development of Neoclassical architecture...
and was completed in 1851. Wings extending from the courthouse were added in 1914 for extra room. A fire started by an arsonist swept through the courthouse in 1977 and was determined to be started in the northern stairwell and the judge's chambers. Nobody has ever been accused or convicted of the crime. The county was placed with the decision to tear down the burnt husk and start anew or to repair the structure. After a vote, the county decided to repair the structure to its pre-fire condition. Local citizens banded together to form the Brown County Courthouse Reconstruction Association to help repair the building. The courthouse was re-dedicated in 1982 to much ceremony.
Exterior
The courthouse is built of bricks painted white with blue window and door trim. The windows are shuttered on both levels; a balcony is attached above the door and is accessed by a set of French Doors. The entrance from the square is recessed and is framed by two large Doric columnsDoric order
The Doric order was one of the three orders or organizational systems of ancient Greek or classical architecture; the other two canonical orders were the Ionic and the Corinthian.-History:...
, Doric 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 are found along the buildings walls. The roof aboves the entrance resembles a pediment
Pediment
A pediment is a classical architectural element consisting of the triangular section found above the horizontal structure , typically supported by columns. The gable end of the pediment is surrounded by the cornice moulding...
but is actually 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...
. The two wings also contain entrances but the door is not recessed like the main entrance. Two stacked rectangular drums protrude from the center of the building with an octagon drum supporting the dome. A four faced clock protrudes from the sides of the final drum.
Grounds
The courthouse rests in a town square bounded by Grant Street, Apple Street, Cherry Street, and Main Street. The site in front of the courthouse saw Morgan's RaidMorgan's Raid
Morgan's Raid was a highly publicized incursion by Confederate cavalry into the Northern states of Indiana and Ohio during the American Civil War. The raid took place from June 11–July 26, 1863, and is named for the commander of the Confederates, Brig. Gen...
ers enter town in 1863. The band gathered in front of the courthouse and hitched their horses for their short stay. There was no skirmish but a soldier on leave was shot and several horses and valuables went missing.
Further reading
- Thrane, Susan W., County Courthouses of Ohio, Indiana University Press, Indianapolis, Indiana 2000 ISBN 0-253-33778-8
- Marzulli, Lawrence J., The Development of Ohio's Counties and Their Historic Courthouses, Gray Printing Company, Fostoria, Ohio 1983
- Stebbins, Clair, Ohio's Court Houses, Ohio State Bar Association, Columbus, Ohio 1980