Built 1908 (1908) Designated MSHS May 17, 1978 Area 2 ha | NRHP Reference # 80001889 Opened 1908 Added to NRHP 3 April 1980 | |
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Location State and Maple Sts., Onaway, Michigan Architectural styles Eclecticism in architecture, Victorian architecture | ||
The Presque Isle County Courthouse, also known as the Onaway Courthouse, is a government building located on the corner of State and Maple Streets in Onaway, Michigan. It was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1978 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
Contents
- Map of Presque Isle County Courthouse 20774 State St Onaway MI 49765 USA
- History
- Description
- References
Map of Presque Isle County Courthouse, 20774 State St, Onaway, MI 49765, USA
History
Merritt Chandler was born in 1843 near Adrian, Michigan. He made a forture in lumbering and then in building roads; in 1886 he platted the village of Onaway. By 1903, Onaway had a population of 3000, making it the largest settlement in Presque Isle County. In 1908, Chandler constructed this building and donated it to the county in an effort to wrest the county seat away from Rogers City. He was unable to have the county seat moved, so in 1911 a drive started to carve out a new county for Onaway, to be called "Forest County." The drive failed, but as a compromise, county court sessions were alternated between Rogers City and Onaway until the 1940s.
The building served various functions over the years, but began to fall into disrepair. In the late 1990s, restoration efforts began, and over $1 million was spent to improve the heating and electrical system, replace the roof and windows, refinish the interior, and install a clock in the clocktower. As of 2009, the building houses the Onaway Branch of the Presque Isle District Library, the Onaway Historical Museum, the Chamber of Commerce, and offices of the City of Onaway.
Description
The Presque Isle County Courthouse is a two-story asymmetric structure built of poured concrete block building on a fieldstone foundation. Its Eclectic design incorporates Italian Villa, Romanesque, and Renaissance Revival styles. It has a low-pitched hip roof with overhanging eaves supported by bracketry, and a square off-center tower.