1843  INGHAM COUNTY COURTHOUSE

                  HISTORY OF THE INGHAM 
                   COUNTY COURTHOUSES

   In 1842, the County Board of Supervisors appropriated $800.00 for the erection of a County Courthouse. The first Courthouse was twenty eight feet by thirty four feet and was two stories high. The first floor was used for County offices and the second floor was the Circuit Court. The structure was completed in 1843. This first Courthouse was located on the south side of Ash Street, between Jefferson and Barnes Streets.
By 1855, the population of the County had grown to 16,000 people. A vote of the people was taken to authorize construction of a larger Courthouse. The proposition passed by a vote of 1,088 to 652 with just over ten percent of the population voting. The vote specified a cost of $10,000.00; however a contract was negotiated in the amount of $11,700.00 with Mason contributing $1,500.00. The second Courthouse was constructed on the town square where the present Courthouse stands. It was made out of  brick and was completed in 1858 for $12,229.00

In October of 1901, a committee was formed to determine whether the 1858 Courthouse should be remodeled or whether a new one should be constructed. After visiting four other Courthouses, the committee recommended construction of a new Courthouse. In April of 1902 the question was put to a vote of the people. There were 9,194 votes cast with 5,691 in favor, while 3,503 were opposed to levying a total of $40,000.00 over a five year period for the new building.
      1858 INGHAM COUNTY  COURTHOUSE

 

INGHAM COUNTY  COURTHOUSE 
DEDICATED MAY 9, 1905
REDEDICATED OCTOBER 2, 1993

An architect by the name of Edwin A. Bowd of Lansing was retained to design the new Courthouse which was to be constructed on the same site as the second courthouse. After 108 votes of the Board of Supervisors, the plans for the new courthouse were finally approved and construction started in the fall of 1902.

It was determined that an additional $36,000.00 would be required to complete the Courthouse so the people were asked to vote on the additional amount over a six year period with the final payment due on December 31, 1913. The additional funds were turned down in July by a slim margin. The issue was presented to the voters again in November of 1903, at which time it was approved by a vote of 2,885 in favor and 1,332 against.

The Courthouse was completed in late 1904, at a final cost of $96,678.00 or $20,678.00 over the cost approved by the voters. The building was dedicated on May 9, 1905 with grand celebration and many notable speakers and honored guests.