Thursday Doors-Ottawa Co. Courthouse

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Copyright ©2025 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

PLEASE DO NOT USE MY IMAGES WITHOUT EXPRESSED WRITTEN PERMISSION.

One evening after dinner in Port Clinton, Ohio while we were walking back to the car I spied a clock tower rising above city, so I said to He-Man I wanted to go check it out…he knew I was thinking Thursday Doors.

I was expecting to see a church, but it’s Ottawa County Courthouse, officially Ottawa County Court of Common Pleas. It’s beautiful. I loved the stone, the grounds, and especially the clock tower. Built in 1898-1901 in the Richardsonian Romanesque style by architect Wing & Mahurin and contractor was Caldwell & Drake Construction of Columbus, Indiana.

©Deborah M. Zajac | http//:circadianreflections.com Image

From the website of American Courthouses the description says:

“The building faces west and is a three story brown colored sandstone and concrete structure. The building is located on spacious landscaped grounds in the center of Port Clinton. The building has North Amherst Sandstone and pink colored Tennessee marble. The square tower, located in the center of the roof, rises to 132 feet above the ground. The top of the tower contains a belfry for the clock chimes, and the clock faces are located in gables similar to, but smaller than, those below. In the interior, the building is constructed around the central stairwell that rises to the second floor and forms a vault. Four scenes depicting Ottawa County are painted on the walls outside the courtroom: “Quarrying,” “Farming,” “Fishing,” and “Fruit Growing.”  These four original industries of the county also define in large measure the significant immigrant groups that settled here.  The French were the fishermen, the Danes were the farmers, the Germans were the fruit growers, and the Slavic peoples worked the quarries. The chandelier, hanging from the middle, was taken from the courtroom when it was remodeled and the ceiling lowered. The building houses the County Court of Common Pleas – General, Domestic Relations, Juvenile and Probate.”

It was closed by the time we arrived, but I did peek in through the doors and saw the staircase and chandelier, They looked lovely.

I think these are the front doors. I loved that entrance cover. I think it’s copper by the way its patina is coloring.

©Deborah M. Zajac | http//:circadianreflections.com Image

Here’s the east side closer look at the doors, arch, and windows.

©Deborah M. Zajac | http//:circadianreflections.com Image

There’s a plaque at both entrances.

©Deborah M. Zajac | http//:circadianreflections.com Image

For more information about the history of the county seat visit https://www.ottawacocpcourt.com/history/

This post is part of the weekly challenge Thursday Doors hosted by Dan Antion over at https://nofacilities.com/2025/05/29/misc-iowa-doors/

Head on over there to see more doors from around the world or join the craze and add a door or two of your own. 😊

more to come…

37 thoughts on “Thursday Doors-Ottawa Co. Courthouse”

  5. What a magnificent courthouse. No wonder you thought it was a church. The doors are exceptional, and I love the entrance cover. It does look like copper. The architecture is the best!

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  9. I laughed at that AI response. First it says there are towns named Ottawa in about six states, then it adds that some “are in counties named Ottawa rather than separate towns.” AI should make up its mind!

    That aside, that’s one beautiful building. It reminds me of so many courthouses from that era that I’ve seen in Texas, Missouri, and Kansas. Clearly there are styles in architecture, and this style is especially pleasing. That copper above the doors is pretty. I wonder if it was original, or if it’s been added.

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  11. The county court house looks marvelous, Deborah! It does look like a church. It’s wonderful that the four scenes represent the major immigrant groups. I’m glad you got to peek in to take a look.

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  16. This in interesting in many ways, Deborah. ‘Richardsonian Romanesque’, I don’t know anything about American architecture, well apart from guys like Lloyd Wright, Gehry and the like, but I do recognize the romanesque bits in this building, although the entrance seems inspired by Art Deco (?). The stout tower in the centre has a German feel. I like it! I did have to read twice though, at first thinking this was about Ottawa in Canada, but no, Ohio has an Ottawa as well. 🙂 Cool thursday-doors episode!

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    1. Thank you so much, Peter! I hadn’t heard of Richardsonian Romanesque either so I learned something new as well. 😊
      I can understand why you thought of Canada first! I looked up how many Ottawa counties and/or towns names Ottawa are in the USA. AI answered and says, “Ottawa Counties in USA
      There are three counties named Ottawa in the USA: Ottawa County, Oklahoma; Ottawa County, Ohio; and Ottawa County, Michigan. Additionally, there are towns named Ottawa in about six states, though some of these are in counties named Ottawa rather than separate towns.” If we can believe AI?

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