Chippewa County - American Courthouses

Chippewa County is named for the Native American Chippewa or Ojibwe Native American people who resided in the region.

Surrounding County and Canada Courthouses:

N – Lake Superior and Ontario

E – Ontario, Canada

S – Presque Isle County and Mackinac County

W – Luce County

Created: December 22, 1826

County Seat:

Sault Ste. Marie 1826 – present

County Courthouse – Sault Ste. Marie

Location: 319 Court Street / Maple Street

Built: 1877 – 1878

Style: Second Empire

Architect: William Scott and John Scott of Sault Ste. Marie

Contractor: William Scott and John Scott of Sault Ste. Marie

Description: The building faces north and is a two story sandstone and limestone structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Sault Ste. Marie. With the 1904 addition, the building forms a T-plan. The building has a raised basement and a projecting central section with the entrance surrounded by an arch. At the top is a decorative pediment. The building features a contrasting, red-colored stone in beltcourses, quoins, lintels, and entryways. The building has a mansard roof and walls which are two feet thick. On the center of the roof is a large square dome with a wood Statue of Justice, clock and steep black colored roof. In the interior, the ceilings are high and stamped tin. The County Circuit Court courtroom is located on the second story. The large pillars in the courtroom bear ornate cast iron capitals and the judge’s bench is original oak. The building houses the County Circuit Court of the 50th Judicial District, County District Court and County Probate Court. The architect and contractor was William Scott and John Scott. Additions were added in 1904 with architect R C Sweat of Marquette. A further addition was constructed in 1930. The building was renovated 1n 1989. On the south side is the County Administration Building.

History: The county was created in 1826 and Sault Ste. Marie was selected as the county seat in 1826. The county used rented premises. The first and present courthouse was constructed in 1877 to 1878 at a cost of $20,000 with sandstone extracted when the second canal was constructed. The cost of the addition in 1904 was $25,000.

See: Michigan’s County Courthouses by John Fedynsky