Second Arenac County Courthouse
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Second Arenac County Courthouse
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| Location | Central Ave., Omer, Michigan |
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| Coordinates | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1889 |
| Built by | Angus McDonnell |
| NRHP Reference # | 82002823[1] |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | April 15, 1982 |
| Designated MSHS | March 2, 1976[2] |
The Second Arenac County Courthouse, also known as the Omer Masonic Hall, is a government building located on Central Avenue in Omer, Michigan. The Second building is an outstanding example of a highly detailed vernacular frame building.[2] It was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1976[2] and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.[1]
History
Arenac County was organized in 1883 from sections that had been part Bay County.[2] Omer was selected as the county seat and a courthouse was built. In 1889, the courthouse burned down, and the county hired local contractor and sawmill owner Angus McDonnell to construct this building on the same site.[2] The building was finished in 1890 at a cost of $2970.75.[3] In 1891, a county-wide vote selected Standish as the county seat, and the county government was moved. In 1893,[2] the vacated court building was sold to the Omer Lodge of the Free and Acceptable Order of Masons for $500.[3] At various times, the Masonic Lodge allowed the village to use the structure as a village hall, fire station, and jail.[2]
Facing heavy repair costs, the Masons moved out of the building for smaller quarters in 1997.[3][4] The structure was purchased by Carol and Robert Britt, who completed some repairs and restoration work with the intention of converting the structure into a museum. In 2004, the Britts then sold the building to the Arenac County Historical Society.[3] The building currently serves as the Society's Historical Courthouse Museum, known as "Ye Olde Courthouse Masonic Hall".[3]
Description
The Second Arenac County Courthouse is a rectangular symmetric two-story frame structure covered with clapboard with a hip roof.[2] The entrance is through a porch supported with slender columns with a slightly projecting bay. An elaborate fanlight window sits above the entrance, and gable above features fishscale shingles and sunburst carving. A graceful cupola tops the structure.[2]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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