The courthouse in January 2016
Terminating vista of the courthouse at night
Ingham County Courthouse
Ingham County Courthouse | |
 | |
  Location within Michigan  Location within the United States | |
 Interactive map showing the location of Ingham County Courthouse | |
| Location | 315 S. Jefferson St Mason, Michigan |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 42°34′47″N 84°26′33″W / 42.5797°N 84.4425°W |
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1904 |
| Architects | Edwyn A. Bowd; builder: Geo. W. Rickman & Sons Co. |
| Architectural style | Beaux Arts |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000397 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | December 13, 1971 |
| Designated MSHS | May 18, 1971 |
The Ingham County Courthouse is an historic government building located at 315 South Jefferson Street in Mason, Ingham County, Michigan. It occupies an entire city block bounded by South Jefferson, East Ash, South Barnes and East Maple Street. Constructed from 1902 to 1904, it is Ingham County's third courthouse and the second on this block, which is directly north of the site of the first courthouse. Designed by noted Lansing architect Edwyn A. Bowd in the Beaux Arts style of architecture, it was built by George W. Rickman and Sons Company of Kalamazoo.
The Ingham County Courthouse was listed on the Michigan Register of Historic Places on May 18, 1971 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 13, 1971.
Overview
Today building is the official county seat of government, although some administrative functions are conducted at the Veterans Memorial Courthouse at 313 West Kalamazoo Street and at other locations in Lansing, the county's largest city as well as the capital of Michigan. The building houses the Ingham County Board of Commissioners, County Clerk, County Controller, County Treasurer, Register of Deeds, Equalization Department and 30th Circuit Court.
History
Construction on the new courthouse began in fall 1902, with the cornerstone laid on May 5, 1903, and completion at the end of 1904 at a cost of $96,678. The courthouse was dedicated on May 9, 1905. It underwent a renovation from 1980 to 1995.
Architecture
The courthouse is three stories and designed in the Federal and Beaux Arts styles. The exterior of the is faced in Berea Sandstone quarried in Amherst, Ohio, with a black Buckingham Slate roof. In 1912, the building's clock was purchased from Seth Thomas Clock Co. and its bell from McShane Bell Foundry.
In the news
Famous trials, real or fictional, which have taken place here include:
- 1969: The Algiers Motel incident murder trial of Detroit police officer Ronald August was moved to the Ingham County Courthouse from Wayne County after the publication of John Hersey's 1968 book on the incident.
- 2011: The courthouse scenes of the film Real Steel starring Hugh Jackman were taken at the Ingham County Courthouse.
- 2017-18: Former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar pled guilty and was sentenced to a de facto life sentence for child sexual abuse in 2017-18. Many victim impact statements became highly publicized stories as part of the Me Too movement. One of Nassar's three cases related to the USA Gymnastics sexual abuse scandal was carried out at the Ingham County Courthouse.
Gallery
References
- 1 2 "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ↑ Mapquest maps
- 1 2 "Michigan State Historic Preservation Office listing for Ingham County Courthouse". Archived from the original on June 12, 2012. Retrieved December 25, 2011.
- ↑ "Walking Tour of the Historic Ingham County Courthouse". Archived from the original on November 20, 2011. Retrieved December 25, 2011.
- ↑ "Ingham County website: Locations". Archived from the original on December 31, 2011. Retrieved December 25, 2011.
- 1 2 3 4 "Ingham County Courthouse, Self-guided Tour Brochure 2015" (PDF). Ingham County. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
- ↑ Google News: Sarasota Journal, May 13, 1969. accessed Dec. 25, 2011
- ↑ Google Books, Sugrue, Thomas J., "John Hersey and the Tragedy of Race," introduction to John Hersey, The Algiers Motel Incident, Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1998
- ↑ Hinds, Julie (October 1, 2011). "Michigan locations in 'Real Steel'". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on October 4, 2011. Retrieved October 4, 2011.
External links
Media related to Ingham County Courthouse (Michigan) at Wikimedia Commons
