Indiana County Courthouse Histories
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Porter County
Named for: Commander David Porter - War of 1812
Organized: 1836
County Seat: Portersville (Valparaiso)
Number of Courthouses: 4
| Number | Years | Type | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1837-1850 | Frame | Builder: John D. Wilson. 20x48 2-story. $1250 |
| 2 | 1853-1883 | Stylized | Began 1850. 40x60. Accompanied by two office buildings on the square. $13.000 |
| 3 | 1885-Present | Castle | Arch: J.C. Cochrane. 128x98. Plans accepted 4/10/1883. $157,348.10. Builder: John D. Wilson, 4/23/1883. Cornerstone 10/24/1883. bid $125,909. Gutted by fire in 1934, no records lost. Rebuilt 1937, $172,000 |
Additional courthouse: There is a Superior Courthouse in Portage built in the 1970's?
Early courts were held in the home of John Saylor.
The 1850 Courthouse was copied from the 1849 La Porte County Courthouse.
J.C. Cochrane designed the 1885 Courthouse as well as the Lake County Courthouse. When a devastating fire struck in 1934, the tower was removed but a fourth floor was added during the rebuild. Entrance stairs were also removed and an elevator was probably added at that time.