National Register of Historic Places

Old Courthouse (Second St. Joseph County Courthouse)

South Bend, St. Joseph County, Indiana
Listed
September 3, 1970
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
70000007

About this property

Old Courthouse, also known as the Second St. Joseph County Courthouse, is a historic courthouse located at South Bend, Indiana. It was designed by architect John M. Van Osdel (1811–1891) and built in 1853. It is a two-story, Greek Revival style stone building. The building measures 61 feet wide and 93 feet deep. It features a projecting front portico supported by Doric order columns and a front gable roof topped by a cupola. It was moved to its present site in 1896. Following construction of the Third St. Joseph County Courthouse, the building housed the local G.A.R. chapter and historical museum. The building now houses office of the Traffic and Misdemeanor Court and Small Claims Court. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. It is located in the West Washington Historic District.

Location

112 S. Lafayette Blvd.
South Bend, St. Joseph County, Indiana
41.64949, -86.25002

Categories

MILITARYEDUCATIONPOLITICS/GOVERNMENTARCHITECTURESOCIAL HISTORY
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Old Courthouse (Second St. Joseph County Courthouse)

This page lists Old Courthouse (Second St. Joseph County Courthouse). A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Old Courthouse (Second St. Joseph County Courthouse) report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

St. Joseph’s Parish Square
Industrial
0.8 mi
Wenger, Martin, Farmhouse
Industrial
1 mi
Walker Field Shelterhouse
Industrial
1 mi
Northside Boulevard Riverwall
Civil War
1.5 mi
South Michigan Street Historic District
Listed
1.5 mi

Questions about this property

When was Old Courthouse (Second St. Joseph County Courthouse) listed on the National Register?

Old Courthouse (Second St. Joseph County Courthouse) was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 3, 1970.

What type of historic resource is Old Courthouse (Second St. Joseph County Courthouse)?

Old Courthouse (Second St. Joseph County Courthouse) is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Old Courthouse (Second St. Joseph County Courthouse)?

The period of significance for Old Courthouse (Second St. Joseph County Courthouse) is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Old Courthouse (Second St. Joseph County Courthouse)?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Old Courthouse (Second St. Joseph County Courthouse) will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in St. Joseph County

Historic places, battles, and census history across St. Joseph County.

Explore St. JosephCounty ›

More historic places in Indiana

Browse all historic places in Indiana.

View Indianahistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Indiana history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Indianahistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Old Courthouse (Second St. Joseph County Courthouse) will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report