The Van Buren County Courthouse is a government building found at 212 East Paw Paw Street in Paw Paw, Michigan. It was named a Michigan State Historic Site in 1977 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

History

Van Buren County was officially mapped out in 1829. In 1837, the Board of Supervisors selected Paw Paw as the county seat. Construction of the courthouse began on this site in 1842, and the building was used starting in 1845. In 1900, a decision was made to build a new courthouse. Voters approved a bond issue of $35,000 to fund the project. The older courthouse was moved to make space for the new building; the original Van Buren County Courthouse now serves as the Paw Paw City Hall.

The county hired Jackson architect Claire Allen to design the new building and contractor George Rickman & Sons to construct it. The cornerstone was laid on September 2, 1901. The total cost, including the courthouse, jail, and furnishings, was $120,000. Construction took 18 months, and the building was officially opened on February 23, 1903.

In 1974, an annex was added to the courthouse to create more office space. A memorial clock, named the Sheldon and Oradell Rupert Memorial Clock, was placed in the tower in 1986.

Description

The Van Buren County Courthouse is a three-story rectangular building in the Classical Revival style. It is built with yellow sandstone and has a red tile hip roof. An Italian Renaissance-style clock tower with a dome is located in the center of the building. The dome and the main cornice are made of copper.

Inside, the courthouse is mostly the same as when it was built. The courtroom has high curved ceilings and dark woodwork. There are electric chandeliers that look like the old gas fixtures. Four large murals are also in the courthouse.