Paw Paw Township in Van Buren County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Village Hall - 111 E. Michigan Ave.

Built 1844

— Historical Walking Tour —

Village Hall - 111 E. Michigan Ave. Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, March 9, 2023

1. Village Hall - 111 E. Michigan Ave. Marker

Inscription.
Originally constructed as Van Buren County's first courthouse at a cost of about $2900, this two- story temple-style Greek Revival structure now serves as Paw Paw Village Hall. Featuring a gable roof, clapboard siding, front façade with a six-column portico, double-door front entrance and a Palladian window; it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972 and is one of the oldest public structures in Michigan.

The building once had a classical cupola on a square base atop the roof. The cupola was removed in stages, and is now entirely absent.

Village Hall was moved to this site after construction of the present courthouse in 1901, serving for a time thereafter as, among other things, a feed store and a Youth Center.

Erected by Paw Paw Historical Commission.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1844.

Location. 42° 13.072′ N, 85° 53.525′ W. Marker is in Paw Paw, Michigan, in Van Buren County. It is in Paw Paw Township. It is on East Michigan Avenue near North Gremps Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 111 East Michigan Avenue, Paw Paw MI 49079, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southwest Michigan

and specifically in one of the Lake Michigan Shore counties. It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

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

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distance of this marker: Engine House - 125 E. Michigan Ave. (within shouting distance of this marker); Longwell Block - 143 & 145 E. Michigan Ave. (within shouting distance of this marker); First National Bank of Paw Paw (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Carnegie Library - 129 S. Kalamazoo St. (about 500 feet away); Paw Paw Public Library (about 500 feet away); The Coterie Club - 200 S. Kalamazoo St. (about 500 feet away); William Killefer Jr. / Wade Killefer (about 500 feet away); Charles R. Maxwell (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Paw Paw.

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, March 9, 2023

2. Village Hall - 111 E. Michigan Ave. Marker

A second marker by the main entrance seemingly contradicts the date of construction on the main marker by stating it was built in 1842 vice 1844.

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, March 9, 2023

3. Village Hall - 111 E. Michigan Ave. Marker

Village Hall image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, March 9, 2023

4. Village Hall

Credits. This page was last revised on March 12, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 11, 2023, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. This page has been viewed 202 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 11, 2023, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.