Shiawassee County Courthouse
The Shiawassee County Court House is a Grade II listed Courthouse in Corunna, the county seat of Shiawassee County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is classified as a Michigan State Historic Site and was also included in the National Register of Historic Places. Built from 1903 to 1904 the building was built by Claire Allen in the style of neoclassicism and still serves its original purpose as a Courthouse and office building of Countyverwaltung.
History
The Shiawassee County was founded in 1822 by Lewis Cass, the governor of the Michigan Territory. Due to the small population, it was not until 1837 that a Countyverwaltung was established. 1839 donated the Shiawassee County Seat Company a piece of land that has been designated as a public space. Temporary facilities housed the offices of the Countyverwaltung until 1851 Courthouse was built of brick. In the years 1903 and 1904 the new designed by Claire Allen Courthouse, whose foundation stone was celebrated on May 4, In 1904. The construction costs amounted to $ 75,000.
The Courthouse was classified as Michigan State Historic Site on November 14, 1974, a memorial plaque was erected on 31 December of the same year. In 1981, the building was renovated and added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 12, 1982. Other renovations were carried out in 2009 and 2010 and served mainly the purpose of increased safety. It was the number of inputs is reduced, metal detectors were set up and installed an elevator system, these changes were made so that the original appearance of the building remained intact. In the present, most of the offices of Countyverwaltung are housed in the building, and it continues to serve as Court House.
Architecture
The three-storey building was built in neoclassical style in Bedford Limestone. The front facade is visually divided into five bays. The façade of the two lower floors are designed as rustic. Centrally located in the front facade of a projecting portico is built a pillared pediment. On the gable roof sits an elaborately designed clock tower with a tiled roof.