Missaukee County is named for Missaukee, who was a prominent Indian chief also known as “Nesaukee” and which name means “at the mouth of big waters”.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Kalkaska County
E – Roscommon County
S – Clare County and Osceola County
W – Wexford County
Created: April 1, 1840
County Seat:
Falmouth 1871 – 1873
Lake City 1873 – present
County Courthouse – Lake City
Location: 111 South Canal Street / John Street
Built: 1953 – 1954
Style: Modern
Architect: Gordon Cornwall of Traverse City
Contractor: John Saul of Traverse City.
Description: The building faces west and is a two story buff colored brick, stone and concrete structure. The building is located on spacious landscaped grounds in the center of Lake City. The west entrance has a projecting white colored concrete portico. The north and south walls of the building are white colored stucco. The roof line is flat. A one story wing on the east side extends south with red colored panels around the windows. In the interior is a large courtroom with white colored walls, grey colored carpet and blue colored chairs. The building houses the County Circuit Court of the 28th Judicial District, County District Court and County Probate Court. In 1959 a jail was constructed and attacked to the courthouse. The architect was St. Clare Padree and the contractor was Peter Schierbeek of Lake City. An addition was added in 1981. The architect was Jaye Miller of Traverse City and the contractor was Gust Construction Company of Cedar Springs. An addition was added on the east and north in 2002.
See: The 28th Judicial District includes Wexford County.
History: The county was created in 1840 and Falmouth was selected as the county seat in 1871 when the county was organized. The county rented the second story of the Perley, Palmer & Company building as the first courthouse. The second courthouse was a two story structure built in 1873 to 1874. In 1873, the county seat was moved to Lake City. The third courthouse was designed by George Nelson and constructed by John G Mosser in 1882 at a cost of $10,014. The building burned on February 17, 1944. The fourth courthouse was a temporary two story brick residence at 325 South Canal Street and Hill Street on the east side and is still standing. The fifth and present courthouse was constructed in 1953 to 1955 at a cost of $162,000.
County Courthouse – Lake City
Picture 1882 County Courthouse
Picture 1944 to 1954 County Courthouse
Photos taken 2008
Images 9