Tippecanoe County Courthouse

Last updated
Tippecanoe County Courthouse
Tippecanoe courthouse 7-2004.jpg
Southern and western sides of the courthouse
Locator map of Tippecanoe County, Indiana.svg
Red pog.svg
USA Indiana location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
LocationPublic Sq., Lafayette, Indiana
Coordinates 40°25′7″N86°53′37″W / 40.41861°N 86.89361°W / 40.41861; -86.89361
Arealess than one acre
Built1881-1884
ArchitectElias Max - Farman & Pearce; Construction overseen by Alexander, James F.
Architectural style Classical Revival, Beaux-Arts, and Neoclassical
NRHP reference No. 72000013 [1]
Added to NRHPOctober 31, 1972

The Tippecanoe County Courthouse is located on the public square in the city of Lafayette in Tippecanoe County, Indiana. The public square is located between the north-south 3rd and 4th Streets and between the east-west Main and Columbia Streets.

Contents

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. [1] It is located in the Downtown Lafayette Historic District.

History

When the county was first organized in 1826, rooms were rented in which to conduct county business, until 1829 when the first courthouse was built; it was a two-story brick building. It was replaced by a larger brick building in 1845 at a cost of about $3,000; there was a fire in this building in the 1840s, but it was extinguished before it could do any damage. The third and current courthouse was built on the site from 1881 to 1884 at a cost of about $500,000. [2] It is built of Indiana limestone and is two-and-a-half stories tall on a raised basement. Architecturally, it is a pastiche of styles including Second Empire, Beaux Arts, Baroque, Rococo, Georgian and Neo-Classical. Paul Goeldner in his study of Midwestern courthouses called the building the "epitome of county capitals". [3]

The old courthouse, built in 1845 Tippecanoe County Courthouse 1845 to 1881.jpg
The old courthouse, built in 1845

When Samuel Clemens visited Lafayette he was asked his opinion about the Tippecanoe County Courthouse by a local newspaper reporter; Clemens replied: "Striking, striking indeed! It must have struck the taxpayers a mighty blow!" The comment was accurate as this was the most expensive courthouse built in the state until the Allen County Courthouse was built some twenty years later. The courthouse has one hundred columns, nine statues, an elongated dome with four clock faces and a 3,000-pound (1,400 kg) bell tuned to C-sharp. A 14-foot statue depicting liberty tops the courthouse dome at a height of 212 feet. [4]

Attempted bombing

On August 2, 1998, perpetrator(s) crashed a pickup truck full of gasoline and explosives through the eastern entrance of the Tippecanoe County Courthouse. Local firefighters were able to put out the blazing truck—before any of the flammable materials in the truck were able to catch fire. On August 11, county authorities placed concrete barriers around the courthouse to help prevent a similar attack in the future. [5]

A white male in his mid-40s was wanted for questioning because he was spotted near the scene around the time the truck crashed into the courthouse. Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives found evidence at the scene and sent it for processing but no arrest was ever made for the attempted bombing of the county courthouse. [6] In 2008, a $50,000 reward was offered for information leading to an arrest [7] but no progress was made before the statute of limitations expired later that year. The case remains one of the few unsolved suspected instances of domestic terrorism in the United States.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Old Vanderburgh County Courthouse</span> United States historic place

The Old Vanderburgh County Courthouse, often simply called the "Old Courthouse," was once the center of Vanderburgh County, Indiana government. Construction started in the spring of 1888 and was completed in November 1890. The building was ready to be occupied by the county government in early 1891. It sits in the heart of downtown Evansville.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gibson County Courthouse (Indiana)</span> United States historic place

Since 1815, three separate buildings have served as the Gibson County Courthouse in Princeton, Gibson County, Indiana, United States. The current building was constructed in 1884 and is located at the intersection of Indiana State Road 64 and Indiana State Road 65. It is an example of Romanesque Revival architecture and was the model for Department 56's Original Snow Village Courthouse. Gibson County's Courthouse is of very similar design to the Johnson County Courthouse in Franklin, Indiana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Butler County Courthouse (Ohio)</span> Local government building in the United States

The Butler County Courthouse is located in Hamilton, Ohio and was constructed from 1885–1889 by architect David W. Gibbs. The courthouse is a registered historic building listed in the National Register on June 22, 1981.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Allen County Courthouse (Ohio)</span> Local government building in the United States

The Allen County Courthouse is an historic courthouse building located at the corner of North Main Street & East North Street in Lima, Ohio, United States. In 1974, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Auglaize County Courthouse</span> Local government building in the United States

The Auglaize County Courthouse is located between West Mechanic, Willipie, West Pearl and Perry Streets in downtown Wapakoneta, Ohio, United States. Completed in 1894, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newton County Courthouse (Indiana)</span> United States historic place

The Newton County Courthouse is a historic courthouse located at Kentland, Newton County, Indiana, United States. The original Newton County was formed by statute on February 7, 1835, and was a roughly square area some 30 miles on a side, encompassing what is now the northern half of the county, the northern half of Jasper County, and a large section to the north. The northern border was cut back to the Kankakee River on February 1, 1836, with all land north of the Kankakee River going to Lake and Porter counties. The county was abolished and combined with Jasper County in 1839. On December 8, 1859, the county was recreated and the borders were redrawn to essentially their current state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guernsey County Courthouse</span> Local government building in the United States

The Guernsey County Courthouse is located on U.S. Route 40 in Cambridge, Ohio. The property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fayette County Courthouse (Ohio)</span> Local government building in the United States

The Fayette County Courthouse is a historic courthouse building located at 110 East Court Street in Washington Court House, Ohio. On July 2, 1973, it was added to the National Register.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monroe County Courthouse (Indiana)</span> United States historic place

Monroe County Courthouse in Bloomington, Indiana is a Beaux Arts building built in 1908. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. It is located in the Courthouse Square Historic District and is the seat of government for Monroe County, Indiana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brown County Courthouse (Ohio)</span> Local government building in the United States

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.

The Clinton County Courthouse is located at 53 East Main Street in Wilmington, Ohio. The courthouse is included in the Wilmington Commercial Historic District which was added to the National Register on 1982-10-14.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marian Apartments (Lafayette, Indiana)</span> United States historic place

The Marian Apartments, also known as Marian Flats, is a historic apartment building located at Lafayette, Tippecanoe County, Indiana. It was designed by Oliver W. Pierce, Jr. and built in 1907. It is a three-story, rectangular, brick building with limestone and wood trim. It features polygonal three-story projecting bays.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oxford Presbyterian Church</span> Historic church in Indiana, United States

The Oxford Presbyterian Church is a historic Presbyterian church located at Oxford, Indiana, USA. Its congregation originated as an offshoot of Central Presbyterian Church of Lafayette, Indiana. At the time of its establishment, there were two separate churches, First and Second Presabyterian Churches of Lafayette. In 1914, they merged as Central Presbyterian. The church was built in 1902 and is a 1½-story, Romanesque Revival style brick building with a gable / hipped roof. It features a three-story, square corner tower with a pyramidal roof.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. John's Episcopal Church (Lafayette, Indiana)</span> Historic church in Indiana, United States

St. John's Episcopal Church is a historic Episcopal church located at Lafayette, Tippecanoe County, Indiana. Founded by Parson Samuel R. Johnson, early services were held beginning in 1836–37 in the counting room of Thomas Benbridge. Benbridge had an accounting office. The first building dedicated on 30 Dec 1838 on Missouri St. A new Gothic Revival style church was built in 1858 on the Northwest corner of Sixth and Ferry. Major repairs were completed in 1887 with the addition of a Sunday School.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muscatine County Courthouse</span> United States historic place

The Muscatine County Courthouse in Muscatine, Iowa, United States, was built in 1909. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981 as a part of the County Courthouses in Iowa Thematic Resource. The courthouse is the third building the county has used for court functions and county administration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Downtown Lafayette Historic District</span> Historic district in Indiana, United States

Downtown Lafayette Historic District is a national historic district located at Lafayette, Tippecanoe County, Indiana. Lafayette began in 1825 as a transportation center for the west central area of Indiana. Its development and growth reflects the changes in transportation over the intervening years. From its location along the Wabash River, it grew first with river travel then for a short while from the Wabash and Erie Canal. When the railroads arrived in the 1850s, the town began to grow, initially along the rail lines. The Downtown Lafayette Historic District reflects these early changes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tipton County Courthouse (Tipton, Indiana)</span> United States historic place

The Tipton County Courthouse is a historic courthouse located at Tipton, Tipton County, Indiana. The courthouse is Tipton's third and was completed in 1894. The courthouse is an example of Romanesque Revival style architecture and was designed by Adolph Scherrer who also designed the 1888 Indiana State Capitol and Tipton County Jail and Sheriff's Home. Sherrer took over the architectural design work for the Indiana Statehouse project from Edwin May who died in 1880. Five years after the completion of the capitol building project in 1888, Scherrer began work on the Tipton County Courthouse building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James H. Ward House</span> Historic house in Indiana, United States

James H. Ward House is a historic home located at Lafayette, Tippecanoe County, Indiana. It was built about 1875, and is a two-story Italianate / Second Empire style brick dwelling, with a 3+1⁄2-story mansard roofed tower. It features deep overhanging eaves with corner brackets, asymmetrical massing, and an ornate semi-hexagonal, two-story projecting bay. Also on the property is a contributing carriage house.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waldron–Beck House and Carriage House</span> Historic house in Indiana, United States

Waldron–Beck House and Carriage House is a historic home and carriage house located at Lafayette, Tippecanoe County, Indiana. The house was built in 1877, and is a two-story, irregularly shaped Italianate style brick dwelling, with a rear service wing. It sits on a stone foundation and has a multi-hipped roof with bracketed cornice. It features a three-sided, two-story projecting bay. The carriage house is a two-story, three bay brick building. It has a hipped roof with cupola and a bracketed cornice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Falley Home</span> Historic house in Indiana, United States

Falley Home, also known as the Lahr Home, is a historic home located at Lafayette, Tippecanoe County, Indiana. The Italian Villa style brick house was built in 1863, and consists of three two-story sections and a three-story entrance tower. It is sheathed in stucco. The square corner entrance tower is topped by a cupola and encloses a curve staircase.

References

  1. 1 2 "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. ↑ General R. P. DeHart, ed. (1909). Past and Present of Tippecanoe County Indiana. Vol. 1. Indianapolis: B. F. Bowen and Company. pp. 155–157. Retrieved 2010-12-11.
  3. ↑ "Indiana State Historic Architectural and Archaeological Research Database (SHAARD)" (Searchable database). Department of Natural Resources, Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology. Retrieved 2016-07-01.Note: This includes Alameda McCullough (n.d.). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form: Tippecanoe County Courthouse" (PDF). Retrieved 2016-07-01. and Accompanying photographs
  4. ↑ Counts, Will; Jon Dilts (1991). The 92 Magnificent Indiana Courthouses. Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press. pp. 164–5. ISBN   978-0-253-33638-5.
  5. ↑ "A Day in the Life of Tippecanoe County" http://tcha.ecn.purdue.edu:8080/?q=1998 Accessed 05-04-08.
  6. ↑ "Counter-Terrorism for First Responders" by Robert Burke, page 187, 510 pages, copyright 2006, ISBN   0-8493-9923-8
  7. ↑ "$50,000 reward offered in Tippecanoe Courthouse attempted bombing". Lafayette Online. Retrieved 2010-12-12.

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.