Covington in Fountain County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Fountain County Clerk's Building

Fountain County Art Council

Old Fountain County Clerk Office. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Al Wolf, May 25, 2008

1. Old Fountain County Clerk Office.

Inscription. Historic Landmarks of Fountain County Award Presented to Fountain County Art Council for Restoration and Preservation of Fountain County Clerk's Building Built 1842.

Erected 2008 by Historic Landmarks of Fountain County.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Government & Politics • Notable Buildings • Political Subdivisions • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1842.

Location. 40° 8.349′ N, 87° 23.816′ W. Marker is in Covington, Indiana, in Fountain County. It can be reached from the intersection of North Fourth Street and Harrison Street. Take Fourth Street North. Location sits on Right side of street. Marker is on front porch to right of front door. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 516 North Fourth Street, Covington IN 47932, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Indiana

and in the Wabash Valley.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally,

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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 distance of this marker: Covington Carnegie Library (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Covington - Indiana City Building (about 600 feet away); Fountain County (Indiana) Court House (about 700 feet away); Fountain County Centennial Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Fountain County Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); The House With The Lions (approx. 0.2 miles away); Twentieth Century Functional Commercial Building (approx. 0.2 miles away); Esther Test Wallace (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Covington.

Regarding Fountain County Clerk's Building. National Register Statement of Significance excerpt:

The County Clerk's Building in Covington, Indiana meets Criterion A because of the significant part it played in the development of Fountain County. Built in 1842 to serve as the Clerk’s Office

National Register Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Courtesy:: Trevor Searcy, October 24, 2010

2. National Register Marker

The upper marker - text reads:: "Fountain County Clerk's Building 1842 has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior". It was added to the National Register in 2002 and has the number of 02000692.

on the Courthouse Square, the original four-room brick structure witnessed events and touched the lives of persons both ordinary and pivotal in the government of Fountain County. It is the earliest surviving governmental building in the county, as well as in its region of Indiana. It still posses[ses] many early vernacular architectural elements that also make it eligible for consideration under Criterion C; vernacular, double-pile, central passage plan, simple brickwork, and intact interior woodwork. The Clerk’s Office also meets Criterion Consideration B. Even though the commissioners sold it and a private owner moved it two blocks off the square in 1859, it merits listing because of its rarity as an early public structure. The Courthouse lawn where it stood is visible from its present site. Furthermore, a non-profit arts group plans to restore and reopen the structure to public enjoyment, thereby returning the Clerk’s Office to an important role in the community.

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The “Old Clerk’s Building” was ordered to be built on the Courthouse Lawn (38' long and 25" wide) of brick in March of 1842

Current Courthouse - Fountain County: 1936c - Present image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Al Wolf, May 25, 2008

3. Current Courthouse - Fountain County: 1936c - Present

to protect county records from fire.

Called a “central passage structure”, or “shot-gun house” design:: one hall-way goes entirely through the building with offices on both sides. (The “shot-gun house” was so called because you could shoot a gun through the front door and nothing was hit anywhere as the blast would exit the back door.)

There were two rooms on either side of the central hall way of the “Old Clerk’s Building”. The Fountain County offices for the “Clerk”, “Auditor”, and the “Recorder” occupied most of the building. Two rooms were rented to local attorneys.

In this Covington, Indiana building Lew Wallace began his Law Practice and career as lawyer, military leader, government leader, and author. Wallace moved his office and family to Crawfordsville, Indiana in 1853.

The “Old Clerk’s Building” of Fountain County was sold at public auction for $95 in 1859 and was moved, across the street and two blocks North, to its current location becoming a private residence. A larger and new County Courthouse (number three) was built on the County Square.

In 2001 the “Fountain County Art Council” bought the “Old Clerk’s Building”

Front Porch Entry. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Al Wolf, May 25, 2008

4. Front Porch Entry.

restoring it and is developing it as a historical interpretive center.

Also see . . . General Lew Wallace Study & Museum at Crawfordsville, Indiana. Museum website (Submitted on May 31, 2009, by Al Wolf of Veedersburg, Indiana.)

South / West Corner of Old Clerk Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Al Wolf, May 25, 2008

5. South / West Corner of Old Clerk Building

The Historic Marker is up on front porch.