Princeton in Gibson County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Courthouse
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 23, 2021
1. Courthouse Marker
Inscription.
Courthouse. . The site of the town of Princeton was chosen as the county seat in 1814 by county commissioners William Prince, Robert Elliott, Abel Westfall, and William Polk. On February 14, 1814, the name Princeton was chosen by the commissioners, casting lots among themselves. William Prince was the fortunate one; hence the name Princeton. The land was surveyed and laid out by surveyors Ebenezer Buckingham and John Breathitt with the plat being recorded on March 28, 1814. The first courthouse, a one story salmon brick common mortar building, was constructed on the courthouse square in 1814. This building was replaced by a larger brick building in 1843, at a cost of $9,000 dollars which was, in turn, replaced by the present courthouse, a Romanesque Revival, in 1884 at a cost of $188,661 dollars. Princeton's early growth was due in part to its location at the halfway point between Evansville and Vincennes , stagecoach line passengers would use this stop to have dinner and some would stay overnight. In 1851 the Evansville and Terre Haute Railroad passed through Princeton. In 1870 the Louisville, Evansville and St. Louis Railroad came to town, further encouraging growth. , Source: Gibson County Warrick County Interim Report, September 1984 and local Princeton historians
The site of the town of Princeton was chosen as the county seat in 1814 by county commissioners William Prince, Robert Elliott, Abel Westfall, and William Polk. On February 14, 1814, the name Princeton was chosen by the commissioners, casting lots among themselves. William Prince was the fortunate one; hence the name Princeton. The land was surveyed and laid out by surveyors Ebenezer Buckingham and John Breathitt with the plat being recorded on March 28, 1814. The first courthouse, a one story salmon brick common mortar building, was constructed on the courthouse square in 1814. This building was replaced by a larger brick building in 1843, at a cost of $9,000 dollars which was, in turn, replaced by the present courthouse, a Romanesque Revival, in 1884 at a cost of $188,661 dollars. Princeton's early growth was due in part to its location at the halfway point between Evansville and Vincennes stagecoach line passengers would use this stop to have dinner and some would stay overnight. In 1851 the Evansville and Terre Haute Railroad passed through Princeton. In 1870 the Louisville, Evansville and St. Louis Railroad came
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to town, further encouraging growth.
Source: Gibson County Warrick County Interim Report, September 1984 and local Princeton historians
Location. 38° 21.364′ N, 87° 34.129′ W. Marker is in Princeton, Indiana, in Gibson County. It is on North Hart Street just south of West State Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 123 North Hart Street, Princeton IN 47670, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Indiana’s Tri-State Region, in Southern Indiana, and in the Wabash Valley. It is also in the American Midwest and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking
The cornerstone was laid on June 17, 1884, accompanied by a Masonic ceremony attended by several thousand people. The McDonald Brothers of Louisville, Kentucky designed the Romanesque Revival building, which was constructed by local contractor
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 23, 2021
3. Courthouse Marker
Joseph Miller of Washington.
(Submitted on January 21, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
With its four corner towers framing four original center entries that form a Greek cross, it stands as a picturesque example of the Romanesque Revival style of architecture. The exterior of the courthouse was built using limestone from Bedford, Indiana and brick manufactured in St. Louis. Interior construction materials included black walnut grown in the county as well as mosaic tiles and oak flooring.
(Submitted on January 21, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 23, 2021
4. Courthouse Marker
(looking southeast across North Hart Street • Gibson County Courthouse in background)
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 23, 2021
5. Gibson County Courthouse (north elevation)
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 23, 2021
6. Gibson County Courthouse (southwest elevation)
Credits. This page was last revised on January 21, 2022. It was originally submitted on January 20, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 433 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on January 21, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
