The Barry County Courthouse is a government building located at 220 West State Street in Hastings, Michigan. It was named a Michigan State Historic Site in 1969. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.
History
Hastings was first planned in 1836 by the Hastings Company. The company set aside a place for a courthouse. Barry County was established in 1839, and in 1842, the county government built the first courthouse on this site. This courthouse burned down in 1846. In 1847, a new courthouse and jail, a two-story white wooden building, was built. Hastings was given the status of a village in 1855, and both the village and Barry County grew. In 1886, a very destructive fire damaged much of Hastings. Although the courthouse was not harmed, people began to suggest replacing it with a brick building. By early 1892, money was set aside for the project, and the county hired Detroit architect Albert E. French to design a new courthouse. Construction of the current courthouse began in 1892 and was completed in 1894.
Description
The Barry County Courthouse is a three-story red brick building shaped like a rectangle. It has a central square tower and a complex system of hip roofs. It looks very similar to the slightly older Livingston County Courthouse, also designed by Albert E. French. The building sits on a foundation made of rock. The design mixes elements from the Late Victorian, Queen Anne, and Richardsonian Romanesque styles. Stone frames the building's windows and entrances. Decorative tiles and brickwork highlight the window openings. The building has four arched entrance doors, one on each side. The main (and most detailed) entrance is on the north side, and includes columns on either side. The words "Barry County" and the construction date are carved above the arch.
The old jail and sheriff's residence are located behind the courthouse. The jail is a two-and-a-half-story red brick building in the Queen Anne style.
In 1994, a new Barry County Courts Building was built across the street from the old courthouse.