Corunna in Shiawassee County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Shiawassee County Courthouse

Photographed by Joel Seewald, June 24, 2018

1. Shiawassee County Courthouse Marker

Inscription. Territorial Governor Lewis Cass established Shiawassee County in 1822, but as there were few white settlers in the area, its government was not organized until 1837. Two years later, the county commissioners designated this site in the village of Corunna as the public square. County offices occupied temporary facilities here until 1851, when a brick courthouse was built. It was replaced in 1903-4 by the present structure, designed by Claire Allen and costing $75,000. The cornerstone was laid on May 4, 1904, before the largest gathering in the county's history. The courthouse, with its elegant clock tower and columned facade, still houses most of the major county offices.

Erected 1975 by Michigan History Division, Department of State. (Marker Number L366.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Government & Politics. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission series list. A significant historical date for this entry is May 4, 1904.

Location. 42° 58.892′ N, 84° 7.066′ W. Marker is in Corunna, Michigan, in Shiawassee County. It is at the intersection of North Shiawassee Avenue

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(State Highway 71) and Corunna Avenue, on the right when traveling north on North Shiawassee Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 218 North Shiawassee Avenue, Corunna MI 48817, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Mid-Michigan

and in Greater Lansing.

It is also in the American Midwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Shiawassee County Korean War Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Shiawassee County Civil War Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Shiawassee County Vietnam Veterans Memorial (a few steps from this marker); First National Bank (within shouting distance of this marker); Corunna Public Schools / Shiawassee Street School (about 800 feet away, measured in a direct line); Corunna World War II Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); Governor Parsons (approx. 0.4 miles away); Hugh McCurdy / Hugh McCurdy Park (approx. 0.4

Shiawassee County Courthouse Cornerstones image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Doda, February 12, 2023

2. Shiawassee County Courthouse Cornerstones

The top two are the left side cornerstone and the bottom two are the right side cornerstone.

miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Corunna.

Also see . . .
1. Shiawassee County Courthouse. (Submitted on June 26, 2018, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.)
2. The Shiawassee County Courthouse. The Shiawassee County Courthouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. An excerpt from the Nomination Form:

The significance of the Shiawassee County Courthouse located in Corunna, Michigan stems from three sources. First, the courthouse stands on a public square donated to Shiawassee County in 1839 by the Shiawassee County Seat Company that established and developed the Village of Corunna; three generations of courthouses have occupied this site and continuously served as the political center for Shiawassee County. Thus, the courthouse is associated with events that made a contribution to the broad patterns of political growth and commercial development in Corunna and Shiawassee County. Second, Claire Allen, a prominent Michigan architect responsible for the design of courthouses in Hillsdale, Gratiot, and Van Buren Counties (Michigan), designed Shiawassee County's courthouse.
Photographed by Joel Seewald, June 24, 2018

3. Shiawassee County Courthouse and Marker
Thus, the structure is associated with the life of a person important to the artistic heritage of Michigan. Finally, the courthouse, constructed between 1903 and 1906, is a well executed example of Classical Revival styling. Thus, it embodies the distinctive characteristics of a style significant to the architectural heritage of Shiawassee County and the State of Michigan.

(Submitted on September 17, 2026, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.)

Shiawassee County Courthouse and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Doda, February 12, 2023

4. Shiawassee County Courthouse and Marker

Shiawassee County Courthouse image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Joel Seewald, June 24, 2018

5. Shiawassee County Courthouse

Shiawassee County Courthouse Cornerstone image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Joel Seewald, June 24, 2018

6. Shiawassee County Courthouse Cornerstone

Shiawassee County Courthouse
Restored 1986-1991
Rededicated May 5, 1991

Credits. This page was last revised on September 17, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 26, 2018, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. This page has been viewed 643 times since then and 74 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on June 26, 2018, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. 2. submitted on February 16, 2023, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. 3. submitted on June 26, 2018, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. 4. submitted on February 16, 2023, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. 5, 6. submitted on June 26, 2018, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.