Hancock County Courthouse
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Why it's listed
Hancock County's courthouse in Findlay is a two-story, rock-faced stone building about one hundred feet square, set on a stone foundation. Designed by the firm of Weary and Kramer, it was built between 1885 and 1888 by Findlay contractor W. H. Campfield at a cost of $289,344. It replaced a small courthouse of about 1840, which was razed once the county commissioners decided a larger building was needed. A square tower with a slate dome, clock faces and a statue-topped lantern rises from the center of the roof. The east entrance has a round arch and a portico with granite pilasters and Ionic capitals, and a sculpture group crowns the center bay. Inside, cherry wainscoting, a cast iron staircase, original fixtures and abundant stained glass survive. The building was occupied in 1888 and has remained the county courthouse since, which is the basis for its recognition for architecture.
Significance in brief: The nomination cites the building's architectural significance as a late 19th-century courthouse with a central tower, stained glass and original interior fittings. It also notes that it replaced a small circa 1840 courthouse and has served as the county courthouse continuously since 1888.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 73001475, listed May 7, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Courthouse Sq., Findlay |
|---|---|
| County | Hancock County |
| Listed | May 7, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001475 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (built 1885-1888) |
| Architect / builder | Weary and Kramer (architects); W. H. Campfield (Findlay contractor) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | In good condition and still in use as the county courthouse; interior in excellent condition. |
| Acreage | 1.5 |
| Within district | Findlay Downtown Historic District |
| Coordinates | 41.03888, -83.65058 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 73001475.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5647034
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.