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

Midland County Courthouse

Photographed by Kathy Garman, August 8, 2020

1. Midland County Courthouse Marker, Side One

Inscription. In 1831 the first white settlers in the area built a fur trading post near this site, called “Little Forks” by the Indians. When Midland County was organized in 1850, 65 people lived here. In 1856, Henry C. Ashmun, the county’s first prosecuting attorney, was authorized to locate a courthouse, and he chose this site. The original courthouse served until 1926. In 1919, Mayor Joseph A. Cavanagh proposed that a new courthouse be built at this site. Voters approved a $225,000 bond issue in 1920 and, in gratitude for the war effort of area servicemen, invited the Midland American Legion to make its home here at the courthouse. Herbert H. Dow, founder of The Dow Chemical Company, provided additional funds and materials. Dr. Dow laid the cornerstone on March 29, 1925. This courthouse was occupied on January 1, 1926.

Architect Bloodgood Tuttle of Detroit and Cleveland designed this courthouse in rustic Tudor Revival style. A portion of the exterior is magnesite stucco, a building material developed in 1925 by The Dow Chemical Company from Midland’s vast underground brines. Donald Gibb of Dow worked with noted Detroit

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artist Paul Honoré to develop the new “plastic mosaic” material. Ground glass was used instead of sand and silex in the magnesite stucco to give the murals their unusual color and sparkle. Using a palette knife, Honoré created the layered, three-dimensional exterior murals of life-sized Indians, lumbermen, and traders, illustrating the history of Midland County, and the mural in the circuit courtroom depicting an Indian Council. All of the exterior building materials are said to have originated in Midland County.

Erected 1989 by Bureau of History, Michigan Department of State. (Marker Number L1235A.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Science & Medicine • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission series list. A significant historical date for this entry is March 29, 1925.

Location. 43° 36.843′ N, 84° 14.832′ W. Marker is in Midland, Michigan, in Midland County. It is on West Main Street 0.1 miles east of Isabella Street (State Route 20), on the right when traveling east. Located

Midland County Courthouse Marker, Side Two image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Kathy Garman, August 8, 2020

2. Midland County Courthouse Marker, Side Two

in the newly constructed circular plaza in front of the Courthouse. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 301 W Main St, Midland MI 48640, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Mid-Michigan.

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 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: John and Almira Kelly House (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Upper Bridge (approx. 0.4 miles away); Pine Grove Cemetery (approx. 6.9 miles away); Jerome Township Veterans Memorial (approx. 7.7 miles away); Origins of the Salt Industry / State Salt Well No. 1 (approx. 8 miles away); Stump Puller (approx. 8.2 miles away); Lumberman's Bunkhouse (approx. 8.2 miles away); Log Cabin (approx. 8.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Midland.

Midland County Courthouse and Historical Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Kathy Garman, August 8, 2020

3. Midland County Courthouse and Historical Marker

The new circular Plaza is in the foreground.

A Closer Look at the Magnesite Stucco siding of the Courthouse. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Kathy Garman, August 8, 2020

4. A Closer Look at the Magnesite Stucco siding of the Courthouse.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 29, 2020. It was originally submitted on December 29, 2020, by John Garman of Rochester Hills. This page has been viewed 661 times since then and 51 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 29, 2020, by John Garman of Rochester Hills. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.