Dickinson County Courthouse and Jail

Dickinson County was the last of Michigan's counties to be organized.[2] This courthouse and the associated jail were built in 1896 from plans by architect James E. Clancy of Antigo, Wisconsin, a former Iron Mountain resident. It was built by E.E. Grip & Co. The building was renovated in 1935, adding sleeping rooms for jurors, and a two-story wing connecting the courthouse to the nearby jail.[3] The clock in the courthouse tower was made by the Seth Thomas Clock Company in 1935; it was the last weight and pulley tower clock in the state.[4] It was converted to electrical operation in the mid-1950s.

A new jail was constructed in 1975, and the old structure remained vacant and in disrepair until 1979.[5] After a renovation, county offices moved in in 1982.[2] A small single-story addition was constructed more recently.[3]

The Dickinson County Courthouse is a 2-1/2 story Richardsonian Romanesque structure, built of red brick and Portage Entry sandstone.[2] It has a slate hip roof and a square brick clock tower. The front facade contains a rounded arch entryway, supported by two granite columns. Dentiled stone decorates the cornice line. The interior has been extensively remodeled.[3]

The medieval-inspired jail was designed to complement the courthouse.[2] The jail is a rectangular, two-story structure built of red brick and sandstone, capped with stone battlemented parapets and a tin roof. It originally contained 36 cells, along with the sheriff's quarters.

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  Dickinson County Courthouse, c. 1911
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  Brick detail