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Property Record

117 E 5TH ST

Historic Name:
Bayfield County Courthouse
Other Name:
BAYFIELD COUNTY COURTHOUSE
Reference Number:
1472

Property Location

Location (Address)
117 E 5TH ST
County
Bayfield
City/Village
Washburn
Township
Unincorporated community
Town
Range
Direction
Section
Quarter Section
Quarter Quarter Section

Property Features

Year Built
1894
Additions
Survey Date
2008
Historic Use
Architectural Style
Structural System
Wall Material
Brownstone
Architect
Orff And Joralemann (A),John Halloran, contractor
Other Buildings On Site
Demolished
No
Demolished Date
Additional Comments
A 'site file' exists for this property. It contains additional information such as correspondence, newspaper clippings, or historical information. It is a public record and may be viewed in person at the Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Historic Preservation.

MASSIVE NEOCLASSICAL BLDG W/DOMED CUPOLA & TETRA STYLE PORTICO. PORTICO WITH UNFLUTED CORINTHIAN COLUMNS. CENTRAL PALLADIAN WINDOW AT ENTRY. CNR QUOINS AND RUSTICATED GROUND STORY AND BASEMENT. LARGE MODERN TWO-STORY ADDITION AT REAR AND TO THE SIDE.

Construction began in 1894. The building was completed in 1896 for a cost of $31,737. One of the proudest achievements in the new courthouse was its fine telephone system. Every office had its own phone. If you wanted to speak with the County Judge, three short rings would reach his Honor. The Registrar of Deeds required two short and one long ring.

In the 1892 election, citizens voted to move the County seat from the City of Bayfield to the City of Washburn. This became known as the "county seat controversy." Emotions and opinions ran high, but in the end, Washburn won by 608 votes: 1755 to 1147.
Bibliographic References
Eckert, Kathryn. Sandstone Buildings in the Lake Superior Region. Detroit: Wayne State University Press, 2000. DATESTONE HAS DATE AND THE NAME OF THE ARCHITECTS INCISED INTO IT. Washburn Heritage Preservation Association. Wood, Stone, and Water: Washburn Walking Tour. Bayfield: Roslyn Nelson, 2005, P. 24-25.

National And State Register Of Historic Places Listings

National/State Register Listing Name
Bayfield County Courthouse
National Register Listing Date
Jan 17, 1975
State Register Listing Date
Jan 01, 1989
Contributing
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Architecture & History Inventory

The Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory (AHI) is a digital source of information on historic buildings, structures, and objects that have been surveyed by the State Historic Preservation Office in Wisconsin. Each property has a digital record providing basic information about the property and images.

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Attribution

For a credit line: Wisconsin Historical Society, Creator, Title, Unique Identifier. 

The Unique Identifier can be found at the top or bottom of the page for each item. The name of a downloaded file is NOT the unique identifier.

For bibliographic citations please consult the UW-Madison Libraries Citation Research Guide to ensure compliance with appropriate style guidelines.

 

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