Indiana County Courthouse Histories
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Johnson County
Named for: Judge John Johnson - Indiana Supreme Court
Organized: 1823
County Seat: Franklin
Number of Courthouses: 5
| Number | Years | Type | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1824-1830 | Log | Builder: William Shaffer (Shaffer was County Recorder) 2-story (Records lost) |
| 2 | 1832-1849 | Coffee Mill | Draught by Samuel Morrow. 40x40 $2000. Builder: Samuel Herriot and John Herriot, Contract $1427. Accepted 5/8/1932. Destroyed by Fire 5/18/1849 - Significant record loss |
| 3 | 1850-1874 | Stylized | Arch: John Elder. Builder: Edwin May 50x84 $10,084. Destroyed by Fire 12/12/1874 |
| 4 | 1875-1882 | Frame | Temporary - not on square |
| 5 | 1882-Present | Castle | Arch: George Bunting, ~$98,000. Builder: Farman & Pierce, Contracted 9/8/1879. Supt. James H. Pudney. Bid: $79,100, but there was a $20,000 unpaid overage |
The 1850 courthouse creates a link between John Elder and Edwin May, two of the most significant architects of Indiana courthouses. Unfortunately no photograph, sketch, or plans for this structure are known to exist thus preventing any analysis of the influence Elder may have had on Edwin May as a result of this collaboration. The Elder family papers at the Indiana Historical Society make no mention of this structure and similar papers of Edwin May's history have not been located. A county atlas of Johnson County was created between 1874 and 1882 and includes a drawing of an empty town square.
The 1882 Courthouse is of red brick with strikingly contrasting white limestone trim. It is very similar in design concept to Gibson County's present Courthouse although they were designed by different architects and constructed by different builders.
The Calvary Monument was erected in 1905.