Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on May 15, 1936.
PROPOSED COURT HOUSE DESIGN
Pictured above is a drawing showing how the present fire-razed courthouse will appear when remodeled according to plans and specifications of Walter Scholer, of Lafayette, Ind., architect.
The building design without tower, steps and clocks has been tentatively approved by the Porter county board of commissioners. A few minor changes are expected to be made and final approval given the plan by the board at a meeting to be held Saturday, May 23.
According to Architect Scholer’s design, the cost of rebuilding the old structure will be under $150,000, the limit set by the county board.
The main changes in the exterior is the removal of the huge arched window above the portico on the north side. Three smaller windows will be substituted to give architectural balance. Front entrance steps are eliminated, and what is now the basement will be made over into first floor arrangement.
Changes will be made in the offices of the county superintendent of schools and county agent, and quarters will be provided for the county engineer and welfare board.
Second floor changes embody removal of the assessor’s office to the east side of the building where the south entrance is now located.
The clerk’s office and auditor’s office will be materially changed and the treasurer and auditor will share additional vault space. The county clerk will also receive additional vault space.
On the third floor, two court rooms have been arranged, with a new innovation in the way of arrangement of the judge’s bench, jurymen and witnesses. The jury will sit with their backs to the judge, and the witness chair,which heretofore has been located at one side of the bench, will be placed in front of the spectators’ benches, facing the judge and jury.
Other rooms on the third floor will be for the judges, court reporters, prosecutor, sheriff and court library.
The fourth floor will be given over to emergency rooms, with an additional court room. These rooms may be used for examination of public records by state accountants, tax board meetings, industrial board sessions and grand jury hearings.
