The Gogebic County Courthouse is a government building located on North Moore Street in Bessemer, Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981[1] and designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1971.[2]
Gogebic County Courthouse | |
 Gogebic County Courthouse, July 2014 | |
   | |
| Location | 200 N. Moore St. Bessemer, Michigan |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 46°28′56″N 90°3′11″W / 46.48222°N 90.05306°W |
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1888 |
| Built by | Herman Gundlach |
| Architect | Charlton and Kuenzli |
| Architectural style | Romanesque |
| NRHP reference No. | 81000306[1] |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | May 8, 1981 |
| Designated MSHS | December 10, 1971[2] |
History edit
Gogebic County was split from Ontonagon County in 1887.[3] The county immediately started work on a courthouse, jail, and sheriff's office.[3] The buildings were designed by the firm of Charlton and Kuenzli, and constructed in 1888 for $50,000 by contractor Herman Gundlach.[3]
The courthouse was enlarged in 1915.[3] In 1974, the original jail and sheriff's office were demolished and replaced,[3] and an elevator tower and annex to the courthouse were constructed.[2]
Significance edit
The Gogebic County Courthouse symbolizes the cooperative effort of individuals, industries, and skilled workers in the Bessemer area in constructing a finely crafted building.[2] It is a regional landmark, built when Gogebic County was a booming mining area, and reflects the economic prosperity of the times and the enthusiasm of county residents at a time when Gogebic County was a newly created political entity.[2]
Description edit
The Gogebic County Courthouse is a rectangular Romanesque red sandstone building, two stories tall with a full basement.[2] It has a hipped roof and a four-story square tower on the front facade. The entrance is through a carved, round arched entryway in the base of the tower. Farther up the tower are rectangular windows with transoms, surrounded by carved stone, and a porthole window. A dentilated cornice runs around the roofline of the building.[2]
References edit
- ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Gogebic County Courthouse". Michigan State Housing Development Authority: Historic Sites Online. Archived from the original on June 12, 2012. Retrieved December 24, 2011.
- ^ a b c d e John Fedynsky (2010), Michigan's County Courthouses, University of Michigan Press, pp. 59–60, ISBN 978-0-472-11728-4