Jury’s out

Walking tour features historic Eaton County Courthouse

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WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 2 — The Historical Society of Greater Lansing continues its summer walking tour series with a free tour of the historic Eaton County Courthouse and Museum tomorrow evening, led by Julie Kimmer of Courthouse Square Museum. A tour of the grounds will begin at 6 p.m., followed by a building tour at 7 p.m. Interested participants should meet in front of the courthouse in Charlotte.

The courthouse was constructed in 1885 and was used for county business until 1976 when it was replaced by the new courthouse facilities used today. The tour will explore rooms which served the court and government offices, focusing on the restored interior, circuit courtroom and offices for judges and private officials.

“Following the Civil War, many counties in the North chose to celebrate the victory by erecting new and impressive public buildings,” said Valerie Marvin, president of the Historical Society of Greater Lansing. “County courthouses were not only practical buildings, housing important government business, but also were designed to elicit respect for the law and government,”

Architect David W. Gibbs, best known for designing the Wyoming State House, designed the courthouse’s brick and iron structure with efficient heating and cooling in mind. The building also includes water closets — which were uncommon in rural communities at the time. The wood floors, doors and trim work are made of pine, walnut and butternut collected from nearby forests.

The courthouse’s life almost ended in catastrophe. In 1894, the building was almost destroyed by fire when the dome of the building caught fire and crashed to the floor. Luckily, the three side structures were left intact and the courthouse was able to be restored. In the mid-1990s, the building was repurposed into a museum and a venue for weddings, parties and banquets.

“The residents of Eaton County are to be commended for saving this glorious structure,” said Marvin.

The next installment of the Historical Society’s popular walking tours is a tour of the Ingham County Courthouse on Sept. 17.

Walking Tour of Eaton County Courthouse and Museum

6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 3

FREE

Eaton County Courthouse, 100 W. Lawrence Ave., Charlotte

(517) 282-0671

lansinghistory.org



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