Indiana County Courthouse Histories
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Harrison County
Named for: William Henry Harrison - Indiana Territorial Governor - Harrison became President of the U.S. in 1841
Organized: 1808
County Seat: Corydon
Number of Courthouses: 3
| Number | Years | Type | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1811-1816 | Log | 2-story, Converted house. Purchased for $500 |
| 2 | 1816-1919 | Coffee Mill | ~ $3000 |
| 3 | 1929-Present | Castle | Arch: Fowler & Karges, $250,000. Builder: J. Fred Beggs & Co. |
The Indiana Territorial Capitol was moved to Corydon from Vincennes in 1813 as a result of the formation of the Illinois Territory in 1809. W.H. Harrison, the Indiana Territorial Governor, had built a mansion (Grouseland) in Vincennes and did not want the capitol moved even though Vincennes was no longer centrally located in the remaining Indiana Territory. The capitol was moved at the insistence of Jonathon Jennings and others. Jennings was the Territorial Senator and later the first Indiana State Governor.
Several Indiana towns had pursued the new Territorial Capitol; the leading contenders were Lawrenceburg, Vevay, Madison, Jeffersonville, Charlestown, and Corydon. Madison was the obvious relocation site as it was the largest town in Indiana at the time and had offered $10,000 and a new Territorial Capitol building. Jeffersonville although most centrally located was unacceptable to Harrison because Jonathon Jennings lived there and he and Harrison were political rivals at best. Also, Jeffersonville had lost its County Seat in 1810. The Governor could not dictate where to move the Capitol but he could veto any Legislative action. Harrison or possibly his temporary replacement in 1812 (Gibson - Territorial Secretary) would accept no location but Corydon, even though unlike the other potential locations it was not on the Ohio River. Harrison owned much of and had previously named the town of Corydon. When Harrison resigned his governorship to assume a Generals role in the war of 1812, Gibson (who was Secretary at the time) became temporary Governor until Thomas Posey was assigned in 1813.
The 1811 Courthouse doubled as the Territorial Capitol 1813-1816. The Constitution Elm is on the same lot about 2 blocks north of the town Square. The 1816 courthouse simultaneously served as the state capitol building until the capitol was moved to Indianapolis in 1824. This courthouse was originally constructed as a courthouse but was enhanced when it became the state capitol building. The 1816 Courthouse remains on the town square as the Indiana State Capitol Historic Site.
Harrison County initiated courthouse construction contracts in 1809 and some sources contend that construction of the 1816 courthouse started in either 1809 or 1811 and was completed in either 1811 or 1813. The latest information indicates that since the converted log structure was purchased in 1811, construction of a brick courthouse was delayed until 1813 and completed in 1816 about the time Indiana became a state.
It is unclear as to what building was the 'official' county courthouse from 1917 until completion of the 1929 courthouse. The county had built an office building behind the old State Capitol in 1882 that served until completion of the 1929 courthouse. The old State Capitol was sold to the state in 1917 to be converted to a State Capitol Historic Site, but Corydon retained usage rights for four years via contract. It is probable the Corydon continued to use the structure for a longer period, but there is no documentation that makes this clear. The State Capitol Historic Site did not open to the public until 1930. If Corydon did vacate the building before completion of the 1929 courthouse then courts must have been held in the 1882 building or in another undefined temporary structure.
The 1929 courthouse includes a For God & Country World War I Memorial Plaque and a "Dedicated in Everlasting Tribute" WWII Memorial, and an all wars memorial listing Corydon soldiers who died in various wars.