Gogebic County was split from Ontonagon County in 1887.[3] The county immediately started work on a courthouse, jail, and sheriff's office.[3] The buildings were designed by the firm of Charlton and Kuenzli, and constructed in 1888 for $50,000 by contractor Herman Gundlach.[3]
The courthouse was enlarged in 1915.[3] In 1974, the original jail and sheriff's office were demolished and replaced,[3] and an elevator tower and annex to the courthouse were constructed.[2]
Gogebic County Courthouse, c. 1920
Significance
The Gogebic County Courthouse symbolizes the cooperative effort of individuals, industries, and skilled workers in the Bessemer area in constructing a finely crafted building.[2] It is a regional landmark, built when Gogebic County was a booming mining area, and reflects the economic prosperity of the times and the enthusiasm of county residents at a time when Gogebic County was a newly created political entity.[2]
Description
The Gogebic County Courthouse is a rectangular Romanesque red sandstone building, two stories tall with a full basement.[2] It has a hipped roof and a four-story square tower on the front facade. The entrance is through a carved, round arched entryway in the base of the tower. Farther up the tower are rectangular windows with transoms, surrounded by carved stone, and a porthole window. A dentilated cornice runs around the roofline of the building.[2]
