National Register of Historic Places

First Hancock County Courthouse

Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio
Listed
March 13, 1976
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
76001454

About this property

The First Hancock County Courthouse is a historic courthouse in Findlay, Ohio, United States. It was built in 1833 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. The First Hancock County Courthouse was originally erected in Findlay upon the southwest corner of Main and Putnam (Crawford) Streets. The contract to build the courthouse was awarded to Wilson Vance, Frederick Henderson, and Jonathion Parker in January 1832 for the sum of $700. Following construction, it was plastered by Parlee Carlin in the autumn of 1833. It was used until a second, more permanent courthouse was completed in 1842 on the southwest corner of Main and West Cross (the precursor to Findlay's current courthouse). In addition to being an early courthouse, it also was utilized as both a schoolhouse and a church. After the building of a more permanent courthouse, the First Hancock County Courthouse was sold and moved to various locations throughout the city where it became a variety of hotels. It currently rests at 819 Park Street in Findlay. During Hancock County's natural gas boom in the late nineteenth century, many property owners in the city modified their houses by the installation of natural gas central heating and lighting, but few buildings had previously experienced the benefits of natural gas. One of the few exceptions was the old courthouse — it was the first house in the city to have natural gas installed. The building, as planned in December 1831, was designed to be a temporary structure for the county offices and court system. It was designed as a two-story building measuring 24 by 26 feet; it is a simple frame structure of no particular architectural style. With the exception of the main entrance, the building's elements are purely functional: its shape is simply rectangular with no ornamental details, except for a decorative transom and sidelights framing the main entrance. The First Hancock County Courthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. It was the third building in Hancock County to be listed on the Register, following the Jasper G. Hull House and the current courthouse.

Location

819 Park St.
Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio
41.03237, -83.64366

Categories

ARCHITECTURE
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 First Hancock County Courthouse

This page lists First Hancock 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 First Hancock County Courthouse report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Jones, Elijah Pelton, House
Industrial
0.3 mi
Linaweaver, Dr. Albert, House
Industrial
0.6 mi
Hancock County Courthouse
Industrial
0.6 mi
Findlay Downtown Historic District
Listed
0.6 mi
Hull, Jasper G., House
Industrial
0.7 mi

Questions about this property

When was First Hancock County Courthouse listed on the National Register?

First Hancock County Courthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 13, 1976.

What type of historic resource is First Hancock County Courthouse?

First Hancock County Courthouse is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for First Hancock County Courthouse?

The period of significance for First Hancock County Courthouse is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near First Hancock 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 First Hancock County Courthouse will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Hancock County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Hancock County.

Explore HancockCounty ›

More historic places in Ohio

Browse all historic places in Ohio.

View Ohiohistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Ohio history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Ohiohistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near First Hancock County Courthouse will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report