Indiana County Courthouse Histories
- Results
Greene County
Named for: General Nathaniel Greene - Revolutionary War
Organized: 1821
County Seat: Burlington, 1821-1824
Bloomfield, 1824
Number of Courthouses: 4
| Number | Years | Type | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1822-1824, Burlington | Log | 14x18 1.5-story $250 |
| 2 | 1825-1836, Bloomfield | Log | Builder: John Ketchum 26x20 1.5-story |
| 3 | 1839-1885, Bloomfield | Coffee Mill | Builder: Andrew Downing 50x50 $6271.59 |
| 4 | 1886-Present, Bloomfield | Castle | Arch: George Bunting 112x77 Received 10/15/1886, $60,800 Builder: McKay & Bushaw - bid $68,994 |
The first courts met at the house of Thomas Bradford in 1821 and until August 1822.
The County seat was moved from Burlington to Bloomfield due to a lack of water resources.
The original contractor of the 1839 courthouse, Calvin B. Hartwell, was provided a $1000 advance on April 1, 1836 with which he absconded. The courthouse cost was thus increased by said $1000 and the completion date delayed.
The Cupola from the 1839 Courthouse is still used as a lawn ornament in Bloomfield.
In 1952-4 all of the towers were removed as part of a major reconstruction and the 1886 Courthouse lost much of its original beauty. An Addition was started on the back in 2001 and the activity caused the rear of the original building to settle several inches. The problem caused about an 18-month delay in the annex construction and some lawsuits. The Courthouse is built on sand and does not have a stable foundation.
It is likely that the basic design of the 1886 courthouse is very similar to the 1891 Romanesque courthouse in Union County also designed by Bunting.
The Greene County courthouse square includes a Veterans of All Conflicts Memorial and a Greene County War Memorial.