Wood County Courthouse 5938
by Jack Schultz
Title
Wood County Courthouse 5938
Artist
Jack Schultz
Medium
Photograph
Description
The Wood County Courthouse and Jail, located in Bowling Green, Ohio, United States, is Wood County's third courthouse. It was built after citizens decided to move the county seat from Perrysburg to Bowling Green. Ground was broken on November 28, 1893, and the cornerstone was laid on July 4, 1894. The architectural firm of Yost & Packard of Columbus designed the courthouse and construction was overseen by T.B. Townsend of Youngstown. The winning tender for the project was $153,803 and the final construction costs totaled $255,746.
The County Commissioners took possession of the new building on August 31, 1896, and the new Common Pleas Courtroom was dedicated on September 7, 1896.
Sandstone from Amherst, Ohio, granite from Vermont, and marble from Italy were used in the construction of the courthouse. Architecturally, it is Richardsonian Romanesque in design with architectural sculpting throughout the building done by Whyte and Priest of Dayton, Ohio. To facilitate construction, a temporary railroad along pike street was established to the construction site.[2] Ornate stained glass panels cover much of the ceiling on the third floor and are visible from ground level due to the large open staircase which ascends through the middle of the second floor. The staircase consists of polished marble steps with brass railings.
The clock tower rises to a height of 195 feet (59 m). At the time of its construction, the clock hands were the second largest in America spanning 16 feet (4.9 m) in diameter. They were only exceeded by the hands on the clock of the Chronicle newspaper building in San Francisco which were 16.5 feet (5.0 m) in diameter. The clock was made by the E. Howard & Co. at a cost of $3000. The clock tower bells weigh 2,000 lb (910 kg).
Murals decorate the east and west walls of the third floor. The murals were painted by I. M. Taylor (mayor of Bowling Green from 1911–1920). The east wall depicts Fort Meigs, a vital outpost in the War of 1812, and the west wall depicts a train passing through oil derricks in southern Wood County, a major producer of oil in the late 19th century.
A major restoration of the interior of the courthouse was undertaken in 1980, and a restoration of the exterior of the building was completed in 2002.
President William Howard Taft held a rally at the courthouse in 1912.[3]
Jimmy Hoffa visited the courthouse on September 25, 1937 to get a marriage license, and married his wife in Bowling Green the same day.[4][5]
File:President Reagan's Remarks at a Republican Campaign Rally in Bowling Green on October 19, 1988.webm
A recording of Ronald Reagan's Courthouse Speech
President Ronald Reagan delivered a speech at the courthouse on October 19, 1988 to promote the candidacy of George H. W. Bush.
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May 5th, 2020
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