The small city of Ithaca might not catch your eye if you’re driving along US-127 in eastern Michigan. With a population of just 3,000, it’s easy to assume that the larger city of Alma, just five minutes up the road, has more to offer. If you’re an architecture enthusiast, though, don’t turn up your nose. As it turns out, Ithaca is home to one of Michigan’s most remarkable rural courthouses!
Gratiot County takes its name from Charles Gratiot, a captain who oversaw the construction of Fort Gratiot in Port Huron. Although named by Michigan’s Territorial Legislature as early as 1837, the county wasn’t officially organized until 18551.
The seat of Gratiot County has always been Gratiot Center. Located at the heart of community, it was renamed Ithaca in 1857 to honor John Jeffrey’s hometown. An early settler, Jeffrey played a pivotal role in the town’s development2. In exchange for the county locating its courthouse on his property, he constructed a two-story cabin that became the county’s first courthouse in 1856. Five years later, officials supplemented it with a one-story frame office building3.
In 1870, Jeffrey’s original cabin courthouse was replaced by a $10,000 two-story structure with an open cupola4. Ithaca’s residents decided it was time for an upgrade by the turn of the century and overwhelmingly voted to invest $34,000 in a new stone courthouse. Lumber from the old two-story frame courthouse found new life as part of a house built at 207 N. Pine Street5. It no longer resembles a courthouse, but the home still stands as an interesting side note in the county’s governmental history.
Construction began in 1900 but progress hit a snag when the general contractor demanded more money. Officials sued, workers countersued, and the project faced delays. Despite the turmoil, construction eventually resumed, and the courthouse was completed and dedicated in 1902. By then, the expense had more than doubled! When all was said and done, the courthouse cost $74,1006.
Designed in the Beaux-Arts style, Allen’s courthouse spans 76 by 112 feet. Its striking Berea sandstone exterior is adorned with relief-carved panels and spiraling Corinthian columns that showcase the fine craftsmanship of Grand Rapids builder A.W. Mohnke7. Pedimented pavilions extend slightly from the center of each of the building’s four sides, but my favorite feature is the building’s triple-tiered tower. Rising to 120 feet, it welcomed a clock in 19058.
Inside, the building’s centerpiece is a grand rotunda dominated by oak, marble, and agricultural motifs. The courtroom offers a contrasting aesthetic with dark wood and blue carpet set against cream-colored walls and ceilings. Behind the judge’s bench, carved symbols of scales and a law book add dignified detail. The courthouse is striking for such a small community as Ithaca, in fact, it was described in 1902 as the “best outside of Detroit and Grand Rapids” by the Gratiot County News9.
The courthouse stood for seventy-six years before a devastating fire nearly claimed it. Although the building was saved, extensive renovations were required to restore the second story. More revisions came in 1994, when a $3 million addition spanning 16,000 square feet was built to attach the courthouse to a modern 65th District Court Building to the south10.
Michigan architect John Dziurman, an expert in historic preservation, collaborated with Giffels Consultants to design the new structure. The connector building incorporates complementary architectural elements like arched windows, yellow-gray brick, and a hipped roof. It joins with the original courthouse by means of a glass hyphen.
In a perfect world, every courthouse would be built with more than enough room to spare for every unanticipated future need. We wouldn’t need additions like the one the Gratiot County Courthouse received! Still, the modern building provides needed utility that keeps the 122-year-old structure viable.
For instance, the three-story connector allowed the county administrator, drain commissioner, permits office, and veterans affairs and equalization departments to move to permanent quarters11. Just as significant, the connector includes an elevator and accessible restrooms; essential modern features missing from the original building12.
It’s a real treat that the unassuming city of Ithaca is home to one of Michigan’s finest courthouses, a fantastic example of Beaux-Arts design that stands as a testament to the skill of its creators and the pride of the community that built it. While it’s easy to speed past Ithaca without a second thought, taking the time to visit the architectural treasure provides a rewarding detour. Whether you’re an architecture enthusiast, a history buff, or simply curious, the Gratiot County Courthouse is a hidden gem that deserves attention.
TL;DR
Gratiot County (pop. 41,368, 39/83)
Ithaca (pop. 2,813)
7/83 photographed
Built: 1902/1994
Cost: $74,000 ($2.7 million today).
Architect: Claire Allen/John Dziurman/Giffels Consultants
Style: Beaux Arts
Courthouse Square: Shelbyville
Height: 120 feet
Current Use: County courts and offices
Photographed: 4/27/2018
Sources Cited
1 Tucker, W.D. (1913) Gratiot County, Michigan. Seemann & Peters [Saginaw]. Book.
2 Fedynsky, J. (2010). Michigan’s County Courthouses. The University of Michigan Press [Ann Arbor]. book.
3 (See footnote 2).
4 Cole, M. (1974). Michigan’s Courthouses Old And New. Maurice Cole [Oakland County]. Book.
5 Deacon, J. “Gratiot County”. American Courthouses. 2008. Web. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
6 (See footnote 2).
7 (See footnote 5).
8 Sonnenberg, M. (2014, April 22). Gratiot County Courthouse in Ithaca Michigan. Lost in Michigan. Web. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
9 Eckert, K.B. (n.d.) Gratiot County Courthouse. SAH Archipedia. Web. Retrieved December 1, 2024. 10 Nelson, G. (1994, June 27). Work lagging on courthouse renovation project. The Saginaw News. p. 10.
11 Some county agencies to find permanent homes (1994, June 27). The Saginaw News. p. 10.
12 (See footnote 10).
