Since the 1950s an ice tree has been made in front of the county building in Gaylord. At the beginning of winter when the temperatures stay below freezing a framework with a water hose is placed outside. As water cascades down it will freeze creating an “Ice Tree.” In years with cold winters the tree can grow to rather large sizes. This year with the warmer temperatures it was not that large but it is still beautiful and unique.

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I have been slowly visiting all the historic courthouses in Michigan as I travel around the state. I made a recent trip to Monroe which is the second oldest county in Michigan, second only to Wayne county. I love their old courthouse that was built in 1880, It was almost lost to a fire set by an arsonist back in 1992. Unfortunately, that person was never apprehended and brought to justice but the courthouse was repaired and is still standing today.

If you live in or near Monroe the Book Nook in downtown Monroe started selling Lost In Michigan books. You can find more about them on their website by clicking HERE

P.S. I have lots of photos and stories to post from the Monroe and Adrian area in the next few months that I am sure you will enjoy reading.

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I was in downtown Ionia and stopped to take a pic of the courthouse when a couple of workers were walking out. They said to me ” It sure is a beautiful building, isn’t it.” Yes it is, that is why I had to stop a take a few pics.

The historical marker in front of it declares It is the largest structure ever built of Ionia sandstone. It was compleated in 1885 and still looks to be in perfect condition. I wonder if a building constructed today could be built out of stone blocks. There are probably not many masons who do that kind of work but most likely it would be way too expensive.

Lost In Michigan wall calendars ON SALE this weekend. I sold out of them by December last year so now is a good time to get one. you can order them from my website HERE

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The Saint Joseph county courthouse stands tall in the middle of Centerville, The historical marker in front tells the story of this magnificent building and reads:

Michigan Territorial Governor George B. Porter proclaimed Centreville the St. Joseph County seat on November 22, 1831. Robert Clark Jr., Electra W. Dean, Charles Noble and Daniel B. Miller donated the public square and fifty-six additional lots to the county. The first courthouse, a Greek Revival structure with four large columns on its east portico, was built in the center of the square in 1842 by John Bryan. That building was removed in 1899, to make way for the present red brick and sandstone courthouse, whose construction began on September 8 of that year. Grand Rapids architect Sydney J. Osgood designed the Romanesque Revival structure, and Coldwater contractors Crookshank and Somers built it at a cost of $33,000.

The present St. Joseph County courthouse was dedicated on August 1, 1900. Its Romanesque Revival design creates a commodious, well-lighted, solid building that echoes the justice and stability it represents. Marble floors. wide spacious stairs, ornately carved woodwork, frosted glass doors, and three wall murals still grace the little-altered interior. The clock, whose faces are five and one-half feet in diameter, was purchased by the village of Centreville for $850 and placed in the seventy-five-foot tower prior to the completion of the courthouse. When the building became too small to accommodate all of the government offices, a new court building was constructed on the south side of the public square. The courthouse, however, remains the seat of government.

I have been slowly accumulating photos of all the county courthouses. In my hometown of Saginaw, the historic Victorian-era courthouse was demolished in the 1960s. There was nothing wrong with the building, the county just wanted something more modern looking, The new courthouse is a rather boring looking building. If you live somewhere with a historic courthouse or city hall I hope the community appreciates the history and architecture.

If you live near Omer I hope you will come out to my presentation on Monday, November 4th at the historic Masonic Lodge at 7 pm.

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Ludington became the Mason county seat in 1873, when county offices were moved from the now-vanished village of Little Sauble. At that time Ludington was the county’s most prosperous settlement. Formerly called Pere Marquette, Ludington was platted in 1867 by Milwaukee lumberman James Ludington. The town served as a shipping center for West Michigan lumber. Erected in 1893-94, this is the fourth structure to serve as Mason County’s courthouse since the county was established in 1855. Grand Rapids architect Sidney J. Osgood designed the Richardsonian Romanesque structure, which was built of Jacobsville sandstone from Houghton County in the Upper Peninsula. The tower clock was built by Nels Johnson as one of his Century tower clocks and installed in 1907. The courthouse is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

I always marvel at the construction of these old brick buildings. I like to stop and get pics of them and I think they are a wonderful representation of a community. I wonder if the people who live near them take there beauty and impressive construction for granted.

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I love the grand old courthouse in Houghton. The historical marker next to it reads:

The opulent High Victorian design of the Houghton County Courthouse testifies to the prosperity that the copper boom brought to the area in the late nineteenth century. The building’s irregular form and polychromatic exterior make it one of Michigan’s most distinctive nineteenth century courthouses. The red sandstone trim and copper roof were products of the Upper Peninsula. The architect, J. B. Sweatt, was from Marquette. Originally from Chicago, Sweatt typified the many architects who worked in Houghton and participated in the building rush that occurred during the copper boom. Dedicated on July 28, 1887, the courthouse replaced a frame structure constructed in 1862.

If you have read the posts on my website for a long time, you probably noticed I take a lot of photos of county courthouses. My hometown of Saginaw had a magnificent Victorian-era courthouse that was torn down about five years before I was born. The city was trying to compete with the urban sprawl and the construction of shopping malls and big chain stores. Like many cities at that time, Saginaw was trying to modernize and demolish its old buildings.  I wished the old courthouse would have been saved. It’s just an empty field now. I think it was one of the most beautiful courthouses in Michigan. You can see a pic of it on my other website HERE. I hope the citizens in counties with old historic courthouses cherish them, and that is why I take a lot of courthouse photos.

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The internet can sometimes be like that friend who tells you things without any regards to your feelings, kinda like Dr. Sheldon Cooper. I  was doing some research on Mio and then I saw it in big bold text on google Oscoda County Courthouse Destroyed by Fire May 6th, 2016. I remember making an image of the old courthouse a few years ago but for some reason, I never got around to posting it.  I guess I can share it with you now. I suppose finding out on google is better than being in the area and stopping by to get a photo finding out that it’s gone, it’s happened to me before.

The old courthouse had a Michigan Historical Marker and here is what was written on it.

When the county government moved from a town called Union Corners to Mio in 1882, temporary offices were set up in a rented building owned by John Randall, one Mio’s founders. For permanent quarters the county supervisors purchased land from Randall in 1885. The county hired Bay City architects Pratt and Koeppe to design a courthouse. In contrast to the elaborate stone and brick courthouses being built at the time, the firm designed this modest wood frame structure, completed in 1889, for Oscoda County. Two wings were added in 1908 to house vaults for the county clerk and treasurer. In 1889 – 90 a courthouse almost identical to this one was built for Arenac County in Omer. That courthouse became a Masonic hall in 1892.

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