The Vermillion County Historical Society is raising funds to renovate this fabulous former…read moresheriff's home with attached jail. The Italianate Style home was built in 1868 and housed the Vermillion County Sheriff and family. In 1896, the Romanesque Revival jail addition was added at the rear of the home. The facility was operational until 1992 (over 100 years!) when the operations were moved to a modern facility. In 1999, the structure became a National Register of Historic Places. Tours of the facility are available for $3 when Historical Society staff is at the site. There was no staff present during our visit, so we walked around outside. The Society is asking for donations to help with renovations. I love visiting these sheriff's homes/jails, which were prevalent in county seat towns throughout Indiana. Each location holds different local stories. There is street parking around the structure and a historical marker. I will return to visit the inside after checking with the Historical Society.

Romanesque-Revival style, the Edgar County Courthouse looks like a fancy wedding cake. It was…read moredesigned by architect Henry Eliot of Chicago and was constructed from 1891 to 1893. At the top is a galvanized steel and zinc sheet metal-clad, tiered bell and clock tower topped with a copper dome. The tower and dome are topped by a "Lady Justice" statue. The courthouse's exterior has four main sides and four entrances situated between each adjacent pair of sides. Each side includes two towers at each end and a central section with a tall gable. It's a stunning structure located at the center of Paris. Don't miss out on this and if you're able to do a tour, please do! [Review 1288 of 2024 - 215 in Illinois - 22311 overall]

I've been visiting West Lafayette for many years but never noticed this magnificent fountain until…read moremy visit to the Courthouse in September. The fountain is amazing - my first thought was just "wow". The fountain was designed by Laredo Taft in 1887. The statue honors General Lafayette, the city namesake. His figure stands majestically over the pool below. Panels around the base also honor John Purdue (namesake of Purdue University), an artesian well beneath the fountain, early pioneers of the city, Union solders who fought in the Civil War, and William Digby (founder of Lafayette). The fountain is surrounded by beautiful landscaping. Local business workers sat around the fountain eating lunch or reading in the serene setting and the sounds of the fountain water. There is free street parking about a block away. The fountain and Courthouse are definitely worth a visit.

Famous American sculptor Lorado Taft from Illinois was selected to create the magnificent fountain…read moreon the northeast corner of the Tippecanoe County Courthouse. In 1887, the piece was erected on the site and appears to have undergone some TLC along with the courthouse. The main figure atop the fountain is that of the Marquis de Lafayette who was instrumental in helping the inexperienced and underfunded American military during the Revolutionary War. Below that life sized figure, there are four oval reliefs and below that, an octagonal shape with each of the sides bearing an ornate framing around the names of honorees with ties to the city. Honorees are quite varied and include pioneers, soldiers, John Purdue, and William Digby, the town founder. Earlier versions of the courthouse are also honored. Although the honorees may be somewhat random, the overall beauty of the work is fantastic. Review #1410

I found out about this place after the post office canceled the passport appointment I had…read morescheduled for my son a month in advance. Thankfully, I learned that this location accepts walk-ins for passport services. I called ahead to confirm, and I'm really glad I did. They don't offer photo services like the post office, so I had to make an extra stop to get photos taken. I had also already prepaid for a money order on the processing fee, but it turned out they accept credit/debit cards or cash for that portion of the cost ($35), so I ended up paying that way instead (since my money order was too much ($50) because of the extra photo service charge I had opted for originally with the post office). The payment to the U.S. department of state ($130) still had to be money order/cashiers check or a check which I had a money order for that. The building itself is beautiful, very historic with a old-timey vibe. I enjoyed sightseeing around the building, checking out all the landmarks. When we arrived, the security guard at the front was helpful and guided us to the correct area. The staff member who assisted us was also very friendly, which made the process smooth. Parking was free and available around the building, which made things even easier. When I called ahead, they also let me know which entrance to use since some were closed, and that was really helpful. I'm so grateful this option was available the same day. It was convenient, easy to access, and the service was great, plus, the building itself was a nice bonus to see.

The Johnson County Courthouse stands on a prominent square in Franklin. The Courthouse, designed by…read morearchitect George W. Buenting, was completed in 1881 and is a mixture of Italianate and other styles. The courthouse is the 4th dedicated structure for Johnson County. (Two previous courthouses were destroyed by fire.) The exterior of the building is a combination of brick and limestone. A central clock tower with working bell is prominent. Several war memorials stand in the courtyard including a bronze Civil War sculpture by John Vawter. Inside, marble floors, curved stairways, carved woodwork and other woodwork captured my attention. A central atrium with a beautiful lit ceiling is the centerpiece of the building. The building is pristine with the most recent renovation completed in 1983. The security guard was friendly and directed me to the clerk's office for information. There are several courtrooms in the building. The Superior Court was close to original 1881 condition with folding seating made of wrought iron and oak. Other courtrooms had been modernized. Free parking surrounds the Courthouse square. The building is fully accessible. The Courthouse is worth a visit if you are interested in architecture and history.

The Monroe County Courthouse sits on a grand square surrounded by thriving restaurants, bars and…read moreshops. There is an energy around the square that I have not seen at other county courthouses. The courthouse building, completed in 1907 is constructed of Indiana limestone (of course). There is a large copper dome on top and four large clocks around the tower. A limestone-carved Lady Liberty sits over the main entrance with a male figure sitting beside her. The building is National Registered as a Historic Place. The Courthouse is surrounded by memorials. The is a really nice Viet Nam memorial on the West side with beautifully cared for flowering plants. On the East side is a War Memorial commentating those who served in multiple wars back to the Spanish American War. Other memorials honor local public servants. This is very much a working Courthouse housing the Circuit Court. Residents can register to vote here. Landscaping is variable around the courthouse with parts needing care. Many of the statues and the exterior of the courthouse building are in need of cleaning.

Monroe County was formed by the Indiana General Assembly and Bloomington was selected as the county…read moreseat in 1818. A one-story two-room log cabin was the original. The second courthouse was built here between 1819-1826 and was two stories with brick and a stone foundation. It was expanded a couple of times but was eventually demolished for the construction of this new courthouse. The current stricture was build in 1908 and is in the Beaux Arts style. It is large, majestic and absolutely lovely. You'll want to try spotting the weather vane on the top of the dome which was saved from the original courthouse. The grounds of the courthouse have a number of memorials including a Civil War monument and a World War monument (because back then, there was only the one). There is metered street parking on all four sides of the courthouse and the square is surrounded by bars and restaurants and retail shopping. [Review 20563 overall - 101 in Indiana - 1544 of 2023.]

I got that dreaded letter in the mail recently: I was being summoned for jury duty! Because I'm a…read moreresident of Hamilton County, I had to report to this particular court house. My experience being called for jury duty was fine. The people who work here are very professional and efficient. The building itself is beautiful. If you do have to serve on a jury and spend some time here, there are lots of restaurant options to choose from. I ended up being dismissed before lunch. Keep in mind that they don't allow you to park outside of the courthouse itself. There's a free parking garage a block away at which jurors are instructed to park. I would add an additional 10 minutes to your trip to find parking and walk to the courthouse. It's not far away, but there's a traffic light that takes a while. Also keep in mind: Before you enter the courthouse, you have to walk through a body scanner and empty your pockets. It's very easy but also kind of a pain, but I guess it's necessary in these strange and unpredictable times.

This review is for the Clerk's Office of Hamilton County. I needed a copy of my 45 year old…read moreMarriage License for the new Real ID Driver's License. So off we go to Noblesville. After the quick security check, the women at the Information Desk explained directions clearly and made it very easy to find. What a pleasant surprise when we walked into the Clerk's Office without a line or even a wait. Asked what I needed, I told her and she didn't bat an eye, roll her eyes or take the deep, loud sigh. She was friendly, professional, personable and efficient!! She continued and less than 5 minutes later I had the Certified License in my hands! Poof! Was that a dream? Wow! We were happily stunned with the entire process. The experience felt like we had a personal friend behind the counter. If you need to get an old Marriage License don't totally dread the process. Hopefully, yours will go as smoothly as ours.

Like many things in Champaign County, the courthouse is plagued with problems. Specifically, the…read morecircuit clerk and her staff are unable or unwilling to provide timely and competent services. Filings are often delayed for several days and/or returned for invalid reasons. The delays make it hard to get things timely filed.

3 stars = 60% barely pass. I came here to ask the county clerk some questions about a civil lawsuit…read moreI intend to file. It looked as if the guards were non-verbally communicating with body language when I passed through the metal detectors. I have read both pick up artists books by Mystery. I have read The Game and Rules to the Game by Neil Strauss. I also paid $1000 for the Annihilation Method material Neil Strauss created. I have consumed and digested about 80% of it thus far. It consists of Books, DVD's, and audio seminars. I'm aware when people are winging for each other. The material isn't only for romantic relationships but rather for all forms of communication. Anyways I didn't have any metal on me. I put what metal I had in the tote on the conveyor belt. The second, tall guard, wanded me. I turned around to look at the brand of the metal detector. It was a Garrett. I asked him when the last time it was calibrated by using the specific manufacture and model name. All scientific instruments have to be frequently calibrated to be admissible in court. He told me that information was above his pay grade. I looked him dead in the face and said nothing is above your pay grade if you're willing to learn, that's just an excuse. He broke eye contact in an insecure manner. His saccades were incongruent with what he was saying. His pupils were very tiny. Most places now use thermal imaging cameras and communication devices to alert the guards if a person has a weapon. It is my opinion their behavior was meant to be harassing and to force compliance. I recommend everyone read the 33 Strategies of War by Robert Greene. Books on NLP will also help a person recognize when they are being lied to and the method to these guards madness. I hope the guards learn to be more respectful. They deserve to have the proprietary knowledge above their pay grade for the sake of our community members. I'm going to go back sometime to write down the make and model of the metal detector. I intend to file a complaint to Garret. Hopefully the courthouse gets charged a hefty 5 figure maintenance fee to make sure the metal detectors are functioning properly for the sake of our community members. Also to make sure our tax dollars are being used properly in accordance with the Fraud, Waste, and Abuse Act. We know what is going on and we will NOT tolerate it. We will use science to defend ourselves from tyrannical authority if necessary. It helps I did biochemistry scientific research in my undergraduate. Y'all should see my resume. I bet the authorities there couldn't even pronounce the makes and models of the instruments I've listed on my resume that I'm proficient with. Have a nice day and thank you for reading. May the community be a better, safer, and more just place.

The historic Warren County Courthouse is in the small town of Williamsport. The Courthouse is the…read morefourth Courthouse for the county, built in 1907, replacing the previous structure destroyed by fire. According to a plaque outside, the building was designed by J. W. Royer, Urbana, Illinois. The dome on the courthouse is covered with terra cotta tiles. The staff inside the courthouse is welcoming and friendly. During my visit, early voting and a trial was in progress. This is an active courthouse. The floors are mosaic tiles and stair rails are all steel painted black. Oak trim and furnishings are original. A huge black board that has been used for decades on the second floor was ready to record voting results. The courthouse has several cases of local artifacts, including a flag memorializing Warren County War mothers. I spoke with the custodian about the building. The bell on top of the building is still rung by hand on special occasions. He told me the furnishings in the court room are original to the building. I wasn't allowed to take photos on the third floor because of the trial. The courthouse has undergone renovations over the years, I was told. This is a great example of a Midwest courthouse that remain in original condition. There is free street parking around the building. The building is accessible with a ramp and elevator. I recommend a visit to anyone interested in history or architecture. There are a couple good places to eat in town and other sites to see.

The Tippecanoe County Courthouse is a spectacular courthouse and well worth the drive to Lafayette…read more The Second Empire structure is the third courthouse to stand on the square in Lafayette. The building was designed by Elias Max (who was not an architect) and construction was started by Farman & Pierce in 1881, but finished by Charles Pearce in 1885. The Indiana limestone exterior is ornate with 100 pillars, an unusual narrow cast iron dome/clocktower with a large statue Justice on top. Figures representing the four seasons stand beneath the clock faces. Figures of George Washington with George Rogers Clark and Tecumseh adorn the north and south pediments. The pedestrian entrance on the south side is accessible. Security monitors visitors at this entrance. The deputies are efficient and knowledgable about the courthouse. They offer me a 9-page brochure about the building outside of the Clerk's office. The brochure includes a self guided tour. The deputies even challenged me to find a few unique details. The building is a fully functioning courthouse with a Circuit Court and seven Superior Courts. Many of the courtrooms were in session during my visit. The courtrooms have been restored and most have original bench while seating has been replaced with comfortable modern seating. The first floor halls hold two historical murals. The Battle of Tippecanoe by a Robert Grafton was moved there from the Fowler Hotel in 1966. The atrium on the 2nd floor holds busts by Susan Wilde honoring John Purdue, Tecumseh, General Harrison and William Digby. A lighted dome is overhead. Original (some recreated) ornate doors and woodwork can be seen throughout the building. A Victorian era iron elevator is still operational although now run by modern hydraulics. Outside, Civil War cannons stand on two corners of the Square. A beautiful artesian well holds a statue of Marquis de Lafayette by London Taft. The grounds are immaculate with lively annuals. There is free street parking near the square. The courthouse is accessible using 2 elevators. Plan an hour for the visit.

Impressive Architecture and worth a visit…read more - - - - - - - - September, 2024 Visit We visited Lafayette / West Lafayette, IN for my uncle's funeral. When in Lafayette, you can readily see the Tippecanoe County Courthouse, as its center tower is prominent in the skyline. We had a few extra minutes when we were downtown so I went inside. This is a working courthouse, so security is important; the policeman at the metal detector shared interesting facts and pointed me to get a guide from the one office on the fourth floor, which I did. - Tippecanoe County Courthouse (not the Lafayette City Hall), just because we could - Second Empire style - Plaque to the Erie & Wabash canal - Outside statue - Statues in the Rotunda - Tecumseh, John Purdue, Gen. William Henry Harrison, William Bigby - 1906 cage elevator - Bison statue, with a Cardinal and Indiana flag on it Definitely worth a visit, both outside and inside Thank you! ----- ----- -----