Indiana County Courthouse Histories
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Miami County
Named for: Miami Indians
Organized: 1834
County Seat: Peru, 1835
Number of Courthouses: 3
| Number | Years | Type | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1843 | Stylized | Builder: Samuel McClure Greek Revival 40x40. Destroyed by fire on March 16, 1843 before it was completed - Total record loss |
| 2 | 1858-1906 | Castle | Arch & Supt: Isaac Hodgson. 60x80 4-stories with jail in basement. Cost > contract. Builder: Nathan Crawford, contract $29,600. Cornerstone 7/14/1856. Completed: September 1858. Mansard roof & Clock were added in the 1870's. |
| 3 | 1911-Present | Castle | Lehman & Schmitt, ~$300,000. Builder: P.H McCormack & Co., $251,000. Cornerstone 10/7/1908. Accepted 12/31/1910 |
The first commissioner's court was held at the house of John McGregor in Miamisport 6/3/1834, and the second day's meeting at the house of Benjamin Scott. The first county seat establishment meeting was to be held at the house of Benjamin Scott per county authorization requirements in the summer of 1834. The record of this meeting was destroyed in the fire of 1843, but the commission no doubt placed the county seat in Peru in consideration of the provision of a courthouse square and the erection of the first courthouse and jail.
There were office buildings on the square between the 1st and 2nd courthouses but no courtrooms.
Peru was platted about one mile east of Miamisport when some local businessmen had a major disagreement with the town's founder (Holman). When the Wabash and Erie Canal was built the Peru founders offered one-third of the town property to the chief engineer of the canal if he would build the Wabash River feeder dam in a position to benefit Peru instead of Miamisport. This was done which was a death knell for Miamisport. Criminal charges were brought against the Canal Engineer, (Williamson), but he managed to politic his way out of them. The dam was located at Benton Street extended in Peru. Peru eventually swallowed Miamisport. Peru streets of Lafayette, Holman, Main, and the River form the boundaries of Miamisport.
The 1911 Courthouse could be considered a scaled down version of the Cleveland, Ohio Courthouse built in the same time period.
Miami County purchased a vacated Presbyterian church on West Third Street for a courthouse 1906-1911. The church was then replaced by the Roxy theater which is now also gone.
The courthouse square includes a WWI Doughboy Memorial, A Korean-Vietnam War Memorial, a WWII Memorial, a Navy Mothers War Memorial, and a miniature Statue of Liberty.
Wing & Mahurin designed Holman Elementary school in Peru; Charles Weatherhogg designed the 1898 Central School Building, contracted by J.C. Goodall. Weatherhogg worked for Wing & Mahurin when they designed Holman. The 1912 High school was designed by Griffin & Fair, also from Fort Wayne. Griffin had worked for an architect named Grindle who had also worked at Wing & Mahurin before partnering with Weatherhogg for a period of time.