Washington County Courthouse - Marietta, Ohio - Courthouses on Waymarking.com

The Washington County Courthouse was designed by highly-regarded Cincinnati architect Samuel Hannaford and constructed by W.H. Ellis & Co.; it cost roughly $200,000. The cornerstone was laid on April 9, 1901, in a ceremony which attracted hundreds and celebrated with much fanfare by American Lodge 1, Free and Accepted Masons.

During dedication ceremonies on Saturday, Nov. 15, 1902, the structure was christened “a temple of justice” by attorney A. Dewey Follett, one of 10 who had served on the courthouse planning committee.

The ornate clock and bell tower rises to 158 feet. More than 2 million bricks went into the construction of the courthouse’s walls. The McShane bell, weighing about 3,000 pounds, was hung in the tower in March of 1903, nearly six months after the courthouse’s formal dedication.

Various mosaic tile patterns decorate the floor, the most distinctive being an adopted Indian symbol for “good luck and prosperity.” Often mistaken for reverse swastikas, the Indian motif was created long before Adolph Hitler’s rise to power in Nazi Germany.

Year Built: 1902 Current Use of Building: courthouse Level of Courts: County Architect: Samuel Hannaford Dates this building was used to house judicial proceedings: 1902-present Physical Address: 205 Putnam St, Marietta, Ohio 45750 Related Website: [Web Link] Hours: Not listed

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Date Logged Log User Rating   04/10/2010 buffalohiker visited it