I was in Frankfort, Indiana yesterday. A trip to Frankfort is nearly impossible without visiting…read morethe building affectionately known by locals as "Old Stoney." Built in 1892, Old Stoney initially served as Frankfort High School. On February 24, 1922, the high school was completely gutted with only the four walls left standing. Using those walls, the building was rebuilt and reopened in 1926. It continued to be used by Community Schools of Frankfort until 1974. In 1976, a nonprofit was started and entered into a 99-year lease with Community Schools of Frankfort. In 1979, the building was listed on the National Register of Historic Place. In 1995, the building was purchased by the city and was extensively renovated to serve as City Hall with space for the Mayor, Clerk Treasurer, City Engineer, and Main Street. Fun fact: Initially, there was a tunnel running underneath Old Stoney to other school buildings. You can still see part of the tunnel to this day. In 2016, a $4.3 million renovation gave the building a new roof, tuck points, heating/AC, brought the electrical system up to code, closed 2 out of 3 original skylights, installed new windows, repaired/painted interior walls, and included new landscaping. The Clinton County Historical Society and Museum uses the second floor. The building is 2 1/2 stories tall and created in the Richardsonian Romanesque style. It has a raised basement, large round arched entrance, four large stone chimneys, and a 4-story corner tower. It's honestly hard to imagine going to high school in this building. Since it's used as a public building, accessibility has dramatically improved. It's a historic building, so it's not perfect in terms of accessibility. However, it's quite good and I can always get anywhere I need to go here.

"Old Stoney" is how the residents of Frankfort refer to this magnificent Romanesque Revival…read morestructure. Originally, it was built as the community high school in 1892, constructed mostly of Ohio sandstone and trimmed with Indiana limestone. The students must have had some fun running up and down the turrets. The school closed for four years after a fire in 1922, but reopened to serve students for until 1974. Will Beer (the Grandpa on the Waltons) was a notable student of the school. If the walls could only talk. Facing disrepair, a non-profit was formed to manage the aging building. The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Buildings in 1979. The City of Frankfort bought the building in 1995 to move several city offices into the building, including the mayor. In 2016, major renovations were completed to upgrade mechanical and electrical infrastructure and make repairs. Worth a visit if you love architecture and are in Frankfort.

I was on my way to visit the Clinton County Courthouse today and noticed local officials were…read morehaving a ceremony commemorating Memorial Day. The event was moving with local veterans giving a 21 gun salute after placing wreaths by the War Memorial on the grounds of the Courthouse. Frankfort, Indiana is the county seat for Clinton County. The current courthouse is the third courthouse to serve the county. Construction on the Second Empire style building began in 1884 under the design of George W. Bunting. The three story building was constructed of Indiana limestone and features a domed tower with clock. A statue of Blind Liberty stands near the west entrance. The building was placed on the National Register of Historic places in 1978. The building houses courtrooms and related judicial offices for Clinton County.

Lehman & Schmidt designed the Neo-Classical Miami County Courthouse that stands in Peru, Indiana…read more The limestone building was completed n 1910 and stands on a square only four blocks from the Wabash River. On the Southeast side of the building is a bronze replica of the Statue of Liberty. A war memorial stands near the Southwest side of the building. Unfortunately, the building was closed during my visit, so I wasn't able to get interior information. At the local museum, I learned that the current Courthouse is the fourth courthouse structure. (The third Courthouse was designed by Issac Hodgson and was similar to the current castle-type courthouses in Bartholomew and Morgan Counties.) There is dedicated parking on the east side of the building. The Courthouse is another great example of historical architecture in Indiana.

The Indiana Women's Legacy Memorial is the largest memorial in the state of Indiana that honors…read morewomen. The statue stands on the northeast corner of the courthouse square in Howard's County. Three bronze sculptures depicting women soldiers and a "Rosie Riveter-type" figure stand on pedestals. The words Honor, Duty and Faith are carved on the pedestals. A placard on the State of Indiana says "This memorial is dedicated to Hoosier Daughters for their time in service to our state and nation during war and peace. May their deeds not be forgotten." The memorial was designed by Jerry Paul, President of the Howard County Veteran's Memorial Corporation. The bronze sculptures were created by artist, Benjamin Matthew Victor. The memorial was dedicated on August 6, 2021. This memorial speaks to me because my mother served as an Air Force nurse. During my visit a number of other visitors took photos, posing with the figures. A nice park benches sit adjacent to the memorial and a lovely flower garden surrounds the area. There is plenty of free parking on the square and the memorial is ADA accessible.

This is a beautiful small town library that began its roots as a Carnegie funded library in 1905…read more The history of the facility is captured in amazing detail just inside the front entrance. Carnegie committed $10,000 dollars and the local city council purchased land and guaranteed future funding. C. W. Kendricks of Fort Wayne designed the Neoclassical structure. In 1990, a major addition was added directly behind the original building giving additional space and providing a side entrance with better accessibility. The original features of the building are beautifully preserved. Huge oak columns stand around an amazing check-out counter that has served patrons for 120 years. Works by local artists decorate the walls. Adult books are on the main floor while a children's library is located downstairs. There is an upper mezzanine with historic books and a conference table. The library is tight but well organized with cozy reading nooks. I spoke to the librarian, who was busy giving out rewards for the summer reading program. She was super friendly and her face lit up when I asked about the building. There are public restrooms downstairs. There is limited street parking. They have a nice web site with calendars of special events. The library is within walking distance of the downtown square. If I lived in Delphi, I'd be here everyday.

The Howard County Courthouse sits on Courthouse Square in Kokomo, Indiana. The art deco building…read morewas designed by local architect, Oscar Cook, and retains most of its original grandeur. The building was dedicated October 20, 1937 after a fire destroyed the first courthouse during 1927. The building is constructed of limestone. Bronze relief likenesses of the founder of Kokomo, David Foster and inventor, Elwood Hayes cover the doors on the main entrance. Grand art deco light fixtures stand at the entrances to the building. Local Sheriff Deputies screen visitors prior to entry into the building. The deputies are friendly. This is very much a working courthouse, bustling with activity. The building is not really set up for tourists. But you can walk around. Photography is not allowed in certain rooms and areas. Art deco style war memorials holding the names of those that served stand directly inside the entry and around the foyer. Above the foyer is a beautiful rectangular stained glass window that runs the length of the building. There are three floors plus a basement that house county offices and courtrooms. The County Clerk, Circuit Court, Public Defender and Prosecutor Offices were among the offices. Offices are simple and functional without adornment. Incredible art deco features adorn the staircases and halls throughout the building. Being in the building was like stepping back in time. I loved it. The building was put on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008. There are public restrooms in the basement. Parking is free around the square. The building is ADA accessible and has elevators inside. The square around the courthouse is interesting, too. There are few businesses, but the mix of architecture is beautiful. There are also several memorials surrounding the courthouse building including a Civil War memorial.

This library was such a hidden gem! I drove here expecting a small library with a limited…read morechildren's section, but I left completely amazed. The children's department was incredible--so many books for little readers, fun activity stations, and the friendliest staff. It was such a welcoming space, and my girls had the best time exploring. It was my first time visiting this town, and I definitely wasn't expecting a library this impressive. Safe to say we'll be making the drive back!

The FCL is much more than a library. There an art gallery filled with local art. The a community…read moreclassroom. There are cases of art and artifacts throughout the two-story building. And of course, lots of books for adults, children and teens with quiet places to sit and read. The facility got its start from a Carnegie grant totally $22,500. The original limestone building opened in 1906. Today, some of the original Carnegie stairway, scrollwork and leaded glass windows can be seen in the Children's area. In 1988, a significant expansion added square feet, improved accessibility and modernized the former library. Each section of the library is named for a benefactor that provided funding. There's a sense of community pride throughout the facility. I took my granddaughter and she spent an hour playing and exploring in the children's area. The staff even provided take home project kits for her. She also bought a book in their resale shop. The staff is friendly and knowledgable. There is free street parking in front of the building. Worth a visit if you like libraries and architecture.

If you need a divorce or to pay your property taxes, this is the right place. If your looking for…read morehistoric architecture, then you're in the wrong place. The Cass County Courthouse is the second courthouse to serve the County. Technically called The Cass County Government Center located at 200 Court Park, the Center is a large complex housing the courts, jail, other County departments and Purdue Extension office. The modern structure was designed by architect Richard Byers in 1979 and was completed in 1981 at the cost of $3,042,973. The building was renovated and updated in 2001. The building feels very institutional, but functional. There is no history of Cass County government in the building with the exception of pictures of Judges that served the county. I talked to several staff members and deputies to gain some insights about Cass County history, but was met by blank stares. So I trucked over to the Library and Historical Society to learn more. The first courthouse was designed by Joseph Willis and started by Abram Graffis, but finished by by Job Eldridge, Thomas Cummings and Isaac Clary in 1844. This structure, which stood on the same grounds as today's Center, was remodeled by John Medford and John Barnes in 1888, adding a new front with wings. The Victorian building served the County for an astounding 135 years. But the ancient walls and inadequate plumbing became an ultimate challenge for the modern legal world, so the new structure was built. The original bell from the 1844 building is displayed near the employee parking lot, which I could not enter. So bottom line, the current County Center is modern and functional but lacks County history or grand focal point of other Indiana courthouses.