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Old Vanderburgh County Courthouse

January 01, 1970

The Old Vanderburgh County Courthouse, often simply called the "Old Courthouse," was once the center of Vanderburgh County, Indiana government. Construction started in the spring of 1888 and was completed in November 1890. The building was ready to be occupied by the county government in early 1891.[2] It sits in the heart of downtown Evansville.

Old Vanderburgh County Courthouse
Interactive map showing the location of Old Vanderburgh County Courthouse
LocationEvansville, Indiana
Coordinates37°58′26″N 87°34′20″W / 37.9739°N 87.5722°W / 37.9739; -87.5722
Area2.2 acres (0.89 ha)
Built1888–1890
ArchitectHenry Wolters
Architectural styleBaroque
NRHP reference No.70000010[1]
Added to NRHPSeptember 4, 1970

The building was designed by architect Henry Wolters of Louisville, Kentucky and constructed by Charles Pearce & Company of Indianapolis. The 19th century German Beaux-Arts architecture masterpiece cost $379,450 to build.[n 1] The Old Courthouse occupies an entire city block, bounded by Court, Fourth, Vine and Fifth Streets, with each side being encrusted with sculptures and stone carvings in Indiana limestone. The fourteen main statues of human figures are the work of Franz Engelsmann, who studied under the great German masters before setting up his studio in Chicago. In addition, carvings of vegetables, fruits, and flowers indigenous to the area adorn the capitals of the forty-eight pairs of pilasters around the entire building.[4][5]

Before the courthouse was built, the site was a basin where canal boats on the Wabash and Erie Canal would deliver cargo and turn around for the return trip north. After the advent of the railroads and the canal's abandonment, the site was filled in and the courthouse was constructed upon it.

A tunnel runs beneath Vine Street connecting the Old Courthouse to the Old Vanderburgh County Jail.

Architecture edit

The tower edit

 
The tower

The bell tower rises above the Old Courthouse to a height of 216 feet (66 m)[6] The first level of the tower is enclosed with windows which allow sunlight to enter. The next level is open and houses the 4,500-pound (2,000 kg) Old Courthouse bell. The bell, manufactured by McShane Bell Foundry located in Baltimore, Maryland, has tolled at the Old Courthouse since August 20, 1890. The next level is enclosed and houses only the pulleys and inner workings of the clock. The four faces of the clock, each measuring 7.5 feet (2.3 m) in diameter with one facing each side of the building, are found on the final level of the tower. Finally, found on this level of the tower is a suspended staircase which winds to the top of the copper-clad central dome of the Old Courthouse; the base of the cupola sits atop the dome.

Court Street entrance edit

Protecting the Court Street entryway to the Old Courthouse is a great eagle with its wings widespread perched upon a shield, denoting not only the national emblem but a standard of the ancient Romans. Directly below the eagle are large Roman numerals carved into the limestone, showing the date when construction began. Facing the Old Courthouse, to the left sits the Goddess of Manufacturing and Industry who holds a hammer in her right hand, which rests upon an anvil, and the cogwheel of industry in her left. To her left side sits a locomotive depicting the mode of transportation prevalent at the time. To the right sits the Goddess of Agriculture resting her left hand on a plow and surrounded by symbols of the farm: a sheaf of grain, a hamper of vegetables, and a bee hive. Above the arches of the doorway proper are two cherubs. The one on the left is female as it is holding a nest, thus the care giver; the one on the right is male, holding a bow and quiver, hence the hunter.

Fourth Street entrance edit

High above the Fourth Street entryway to the Old Courthouse sits a grouping of three statues thought to represent the quest for knowledge and truth. The central figure wears a crown and holds a crusader's sword in her left hand while decidedly posturing her right hand on her leg. To her left is the only male statue on the building; he rests his right arm on a stack of books and holds in his left hand a tablet. To the right of the central figure is a statue who holds a torch in her right hand and rests her left arm also on a stack of books. Directly below this grouping is a carving of the Seal of the State of Indiana, depicting a wooded scene with a hunter and buffalo and encircled with giant oak leaves symbolizing distinction. Above the arches of the doorway proper are two muses, or Greek goddesses. Depicted to preside over music, the one on the left holds a harp in her right hand; depicted to preside over painting, the one on the right displays a palette in her left hand.

Fifth Street entrance edit

Similar to Fourth Street, a grouping of three statues thought to represent justice is found above the Fifth Street entryway to the Old Courthouse. The central figure holds the scales of justice in her left hand, with a staff in her right hand. The symbolism of the three raised fingers at the top of her staff as well as the serpent intertwined in her hair is unclear. The statue on the left holds a tablet in her left hand while the statue on the right holds a torch in her right hand. Directly below this grouping again is found the Seal of the State of Indiana, and there are muses above the doorway arches. The one on the left holds a mallet in her left hand and a bust in her right hand, presiding over sculpture. The one on the right holds a book in her left hand, presiding over literature. Although it does not date back to 1890, the revolving door for entering the Fifth Street side of the building is one of the oldest revolving doors remaining in use in Evansville.

Vine Street entrance edit

There are some noticeable similarities between the Vine Street entryway of the Old Courthouse and the Court Street side. The American eagle again perches atop this side of the building, and the Roman numerals reading 1888 are again found below the eagle. However, the goddesses on this side of the building are different from those sculpted on Court Street. Facing the building, to the left sits the Goddess of Commerce and River Trade whose left hand rests on the prow of a boat, a chain and an anchor. She is surrounded by symbols of the late 19th century riverfront such as bales, barrels, and crates. To the right sits the Goddess of Learning with scrolls at her feet and a tablet in her right hand. Another similarity to Court Street is found above the arches to the doorway proper with the cherubs representing male and female being sculpted again. However, their positions have been reversed with the male being on the left and the female on the right side of the arches.

Notes edit

  1. ^ A $379,450 capital expense in 1890 would be roughly equivalent to $76,000,000 in 2011.[3]

References edit

  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ "The Old Vanderburgh County Courthouse". Vanderburgh County, Indiana. Retrieved 2006-12-25.
  3. ^ Williamson, Samuel H. (2011). Seven Ways to Compute the Relative Value of a U.S. Dollar Amount, 1774 to present. MeasuringWorth. Calculations made using Nominal GDP Per Capita, a measure of capital intensivity, using "the 'average' per-person output of the economy in the prices of the current year." This is a measure of the amount of capital and volume of labor required to reproduce the work over varying production methods, but assuming that money represents a proportion of the economy.
  4. ^ Counts, Will; Jon Dilts (1991). The 92 Magnificent Indiana Courthouses. Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press. pp. 170–171. ISBN 978-0-253-33638-5.
  5. ^ "Indiana State Historic Architectural and Archaeological Research Database (SHAARD)" (Searchable database). Department of Natural Resources, Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology. Retrieved 2016-08-01. Note: This includes Alexander L. Leitch (February 1970). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form: Old Vanderburgh County Courthouse" (PDF). Retrieved 2016-08-01. and Accompanying photographs
  6. ^ . Emporis Buildings. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved 2006-12-25.

External links edit

  •   Media related to Old Vanderburgh County Courthouse at Wikimedia Commons

January 01, 1970
vanderburgh, county, courthouse, often, simply, called, courthouse, once, center, vanderburgh, county, indiana, government, construction, started, spring, 1888, completed, november, 1890, building, ready, occupied, county, government, early, 1891, sits, heart,. The Old Vanderburgh County Courthouse often simply called the Old Courthouse was once the center of Vanderburgh County Indiana government Construction started in the spring of 1888 and was completed in November 1890 The building was ready to be occupied by the county government in early 1891 2 It sits in the heart of downtown Evansville Old Vanderburgh County CourthouseU S National Register of Historic PlacesShow map of IndianaShow map of the United StatesInteractive map showing the location of Old Vanderburgh County CourthouseLocationEvansville IndianaCoordinates37 58 26 N 87 34 20 W 37 9739 N 87 5722 W 37 9739 87 5722Area2 2 acres 0 89 ha Built1888 1890ArchitectHenry WoltersArchitectural styleBaroqueNRHP reference No 70000010 1 Added to NRHPSeptember 4 1970 The building was designed by architect Henry Wolters of Louisville Kentucky and constructed by Charles Pearce amp Company of Indianapolis The 19th century German Beaux Arts architecture masterpiece cost 379 450 to build n 1 The Old Courthouse occupies an entire city block bounded by Court Fourth Vine and Fifth Streets with each side being encrusted with sculptures and stone carvings in Indiana limestone The fourteen main statues of human figures are the work of Franz Engelsmann who studied under the great German masters before setting up his studio in Chicago In addition carvings of vegetables fruits and flowers indigenous to the area adorn the capitals of the forty eight pairs of pilasters around the entire building 4 5 Before the courthouse was built the site was a basin where canal boats on the Wabash and Erie Canal would deliver cargo and turn around for the return trip north After the advent of the railroads and the canal s abandonment the site was filled in and the courthouse was constructed upon it A tunnel runs beneath Vine Street connecting the Old Courthouse to the Old Vanderburgh County Jail Contents 1 Architecture 1 1 The tower 1 2 Court Street entrance 1 3 Fourth Street entrance 1 4 Fifth Street entrance 1 5 Vine Street entrance 2 Notes 3 References 4 External linksArchitecture editThis section needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section Unsourced material may be challenged and removed May 2018 Learn how and when to remove this message The tower edit nbsp The tower The bell tower rises above the Old Courthouse to a height of 216 feet 66 m 6 The first level of the tower is enclosed with windows which allow sunlight to enter The next level is open and houses the 4 500 pound 2 000 kg Old Courthouse bell The bell manufactured by McShane Bell Foundry located in Baltimore Maryland has tolled at the Old Courthouse since August 20 1890 The next level is enclosed and houses only the pulleys and inner workings of the clock The four faces of the clock each measuring 7 5 feet 2 3 m in diameter with one facing each side of the building are found on the final level of the tower Finally found on this level of the tower is a suspended staircase which winds to the top of the copper clad central dome of the Old Courthouse the base of the cupola sits atop the dome Court Street entrance edit Protecting the Court Street entryway to the Old Courthouse is a great eagle with its wings widespread perched upon a shield denoting not only the national emblem but a standard of the ancient Romans Directly below the eagle are large Roman numerals carved into the limestone showing the date when construction began Facing the Old Courthouse to the left sits the Goddess of Manufacturing and Industry who holds a hammer in her right hand which rests upon an anvil and the cogwheel of industry in her left To her left side sits a locomotive depicting the mode of transportation prevalent at the time To the right sits the Goddess of Agriculture resting her left hand on a plow and surrounded by symbols of the farm a sheaf of grain a hamper of vegetables and a bee hive Above the arches of the doorway proper are two cherubs The one on the left is female as it is holding a nest thus the care giver the one on the right is male holding a bow and quiver hence the hunter Fourth Street entrance edit High above the Fourth Street entryway to the Old Courthouse sits a grouping of three statues thought to represent the quest for knowledge and truth The central figure wears a crown and holds a crusader s sword in her left hand while decidedly posturing her right hand on her leg To her left is the only male statue on the building he rests his right arm on a stack of books and holds in his left hand a tablet To the right of the central figure is a statue who holds a torch in her right hand and rests her left arm also on a stack of books Directly below this grouping is a carving of the Seal of the State of Indiana depicting a wooded scene with a hunter and buffalo and encircled with giant oak leaves symbolizing distinction Above the arches of the doorway proper are two muses or Greek goddesses Depicted to preside over music the one on the left holds a harp in her right hand depicted to preside over painting the one on the right displays a palette in her left hand Fifth Street entrance edit Similar to Fourth Street a grouping of three statues thought to represent justice is found above the Fifth Street entryway to the Old Courthouse The central figure holds the scales of justice in her left hand with a staff in her right hand The symbolism of the three raised fingers at the top of her staff as well as the serpent intertwined in her hair is unclear The statue on the left holds a tablet in her left hand while the statue on the right holds a torch in her right hand Directly below this grouping again is found the Seal of the State of Indiana and there are muses above the doorway arches The one on the left holds a mallet in her left hand and a bust in her right hand presiding over sculpture The one on the right holds a book in her left hand presiding over literature Although it does not date back to 1890 the revolving door for entering the Fifth Street side of the building is one of the oldest revolving doors remaining in use in Evansville Vine Street entrance edit There are some noticeable similarities between the Vine Street entryway of the Old Courthouse and the Court Street side The American eagle again perches atop this side of the building and the Roman numerals reading 1888 are again found below the eagle However the goddesses on this side of the building are different from those sculpted on Court Street Facing the building to the left sits the Goddess of Commerce and River Trade whose left hand rests on the prow of a boat a chain and an anchor She is surrounded by symbols of the late 19th century riverfront such as bales barrels and crates To the right sits the Goddess of Learning with scrolls at her feet and a tablet in her right hand Another similarity to Court Street is found above the arches to the doorway proper with the cherubs representing male and female being sculpted again However their positions have been reversed with the male being on the left and the female on the right side of the arches Notes edit A 379 450 capital expense in 1890 would be roughly equivalent to 76 000 000 in 2011 3 References edit National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service July 9 2010 The Old Vanderburgh County Courthouse Vanderburgh County Indiana Retrieved 2006 12 25 Williamson Samuel H 2011 Seven Ways to Compute the Relative Value of a U S Dollar Amount 1774 to present MeasuringWorth Calculations made using Nominal GDP Per Capita a measure of capital intensivity using the average per person output of the economy in the prices of the current year This is a measure of the amount of capital and volume of labor required to reproduce the work over varying production methods but assuming that money represents a proportion of the economy Counts Will Jon Dilts 1991 The 92 Magnificent Indiana Courthouses Bloomington Indiana Indiana University Press pp 170 171 ISBN 978 0 253 33638 5 Indiana State Historic Architectural and Archaeological Research Database SHAARD Searchable database Department of Natural Resources Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology Retrieved 2016 08 01 Note This includes Alexander L Leitch February 1970 National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form Old Vanderburgh County Courthouse PDF Retrieved 2016 08 01 and Accompanying photographs Old Vanderburgh County Courthouse Emporis Buildings Archived from the original on September 30 2007 Retrieved 2006 12 25 External links edit nbsp Media related to Old Vanderburgh County Courthouse at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Old Vanderburgh County Courthouse amp oldid 1222213865, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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