Old Ozaukee County Courthouse

Old Ozaukee County Courthouse
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Old Ozaukee County Courthouse
Location	109 W. Main St. Port Washington, Wisconsin
Coordinates	43.38823°N 87.87133°W / 43.38823; -87.87133
Built	1901-1902
Built by	Wurthman and Vollmer
Architect	Frederick Graf
Architectural style	Richardsonian Romanesque
NRHP reference No.	76000071
Added to NRHP	December 12, 1976

The Old Ozaukee County Courthouse in Port Washington, Wisconsin, United States, is a Richardsonian Romanesque-styled building built in 1901 and clad in gray-blue limestone from the nearby Cedarburg quarry. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.[1][2][3] The building currently serves as the county's administration center.

History

In 1899, the Board of Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, passed a resolution that bonds should be issued to build a new courthouse after it was decided that the previous one, which had been the site of an American Civil War draft riot in 1862, was no longer safe to use. Soon after, controversy erupted when many residents of the county petitioned for the location of the courthouse to be moved from Port Washington to Cedarburg. Eventually, it was decided that the courthouse would remain in Port Washington and was to be built on the site of the previous one. The previous courthouse began being disassembled in late 1900 and court matters were temporarily handled within Port Washington's opera house. The new courthouse was opened in 1902. An administrative annex was added in 1969.[4]

In 1991, the county's law enforcement and Circuit Court functions relocated to the newly-built Justice Center on the city's southwest side. The old courthouse and annex were remodeled and continue to house county government offices.[5]

Architect

Frederick A. Graf (? – May 4, 1938) lived in Wisconsin and designed several residences that are contributing properties to historical districts in addition to the courthouse. His father was a French engraver who immigrated to the U.S. Architect Hugo Koch Graf was his son.

His work includes:

• Old Ozaukee County Courthouse at 109 W. Main St., Port Washington, Wisconsin (Ozaukee County)
• Hotel in Port Washington[6]
• 2534 N. Lake Dr.[7]
• F. Schimonek House[8]
• Christ Polish Baptist Church (Immanuel Community Baptist Church)[9]

References

1. "Old Ozaukee County Courthouse". Landmark Hunter.com. Retrieved 2012-10-03.
2. "Old Ozaukee County Courthouse". Wisconsin Historical Society. January 2012. Retrieved 2017-02-16.
3. Hundt, Katherine E. (1975-12-19). "Old Ozaukee County Courthouse". NRHP Inventory-Nomination Form. National Park Service. Retrieved 2017-02-16. with two photos
4. "Ozaukee County Courthouse". Ozaukee County. Retrieved 2012-10-03.
5. Barbera, Benjamin A. "Courthouses". Encyclopedia of Milwaukee. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
6. Improvement Bulletin. Vol. 25. Chapin. 1901 – via Google Books.
7. "2534 N LAKE DR | Property Record". Wisconsin Historical Society. January 1, 2012.
8. "2903 W MCKINLEY BLVD | Property Record". Wisconsin Historical Society. January 1, 2012.
9. Historic Designation Study Report: Christ Polish Baptist Church (Immanuel Community Baptist Church) (PDF) (Report). City of Milwaukee. March 2007. Retrieved January 15, 2024.