In this Book
- Michigan's County Courthouses
- Book
- 2010
- Published by: University of Michigan Press
“Whether you are an attorney, a Michigan history buff, or a lover of architecture, you will find this book is a valuable resource.”
---Michigan Bar Journal
Fedynsky tells the story of each building. For Michigan, the typical evolution begins in the cabin, tavern, or hotel of a prominent local settler and progresses through incarnations of simple log or wooden clapboard, and then opulent stone or brick, before the structure arrives in modern and utilitarian form. But there are myriad exceptions to this rule, and they add to the diversity of Michigan's county courthouses.
In Fedynsky's descriptions, verifiable facts and local lore weave together in dramatic tales of outrageous crime, courtroom intrigue, backroom dealing, jury determination, and judicial prerogative. Released jail inmates assist with evacuating and extinguishing a courthouse fire, residents during a natural disaster seek and find physical refuge behind the sure walls of the courthouse, and vigilant legions of homebound defenders are stationed in wartime throughout the courthouse towers scanning the skies for signs of foreign aircraft.
Then there are the homey touches that emphasize the "house" half of Michigan's courthouses: local folks dropping off plants in the courthouse atrium to use it as a winter greenhouse, cows grazing on the public square, county fairs in or near the courthouse, and locally made artwork hanging in public hallways. The courthouses bear within their walls a richness of soul endowed by the good people who make each one special.
John Fedynsky is a former research attorney for the Michigan Court of Appeals in Detroit and Grand Rapids, Michigan. He also served as a law clerk to the Honorable Robert H. Cleland, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. Fedynsky currently practices civil law as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Michigan.
Cover design by Heidi Dailey
Cover photos: John Fedynsky
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- pp. 1-2
- Alcona County
- pp. 3-4
- Alger County
- pp. 5-6
- Allegan County
- pp. 7-8
- Alpena County
- pp. 9-10
- Antrim County
- pp. 11-12
- Arenac County
- pp. 13-14
- Baraga County
- pp. 15-16
- Barry County
- pp. 17-18
- Bay County
- pp. 19-20
- Benzie County
- pp. 21-23
- Berrien County
- pp. 24-26
- Branch County
- pp. 27-28
- Calhoun County
- pp. 29-30
- Cass County
- pp. 31-32
- Charlevoix County
- pp. 33-34
- Cheboygan County
- pp. 35-36
- Chippewa County
- pp. 37-38
- Clare County
- pp. 39-40
- Clinton County
- pp. 41-42
- Crawford County
- pp. 43-44
- Delta County
- pp. 45-46
- Dickinson County
- pp. 47-48
- Eaton County
- pp. 49-51
- Emmet County
- pp. 52-53
- Genesee County
- pp. 54-56
- Gladwin County
- pp. 57-58
- Gogebic County
- pp. 59-60
- Grand Traverse County
- pp. 61-63
- Gratiot County
- pp. 64-65
- Hillsdale County
- pp. 66-67
- Houghton County
- pp. 68-69
- Huron County
- pp. 70-71
- Ingham County
- pp. 72-74
- Ionia County
- pp. 75-77
- Iosco County
- pp. 78-79
- Iron County
- pp. 80-81
- Isabella County
- pp. 82-84
- Jackson County
- pp. 85-86
- Kalamazoo County
- pp. 87-88
- Kalkaska County
- pp. 89-90
- Kent County
- pp. 91-92
- Keweenaw County
- pp. 93-94
- Lake County
- pp. 95-96
- Lapeer County
- pp. 97-99
- Leelanau County
- pp. 100-101
- Lenawee County
- pp. 102-104
- Livingston County
- pp. 105-106
- Luce County
- pp. 107-108
- Mackinac County
- pp. 109-110
- Macomb County
- pp. 111-113
- Manistee County
- pp. 114-115
- Marquette County
- pp. 116-117
- Mason County
- pp. 118-119
- Mecosta County
- pp. 120-121
- Menominee County
- pp. 122-123
- Midland County
- pp. 124-126
- Missaukee County
- pp. 127-128
- Monroe County
- pp. 129-131
- Montcalm County
- pp. 132-133
- Montmorency County
- pp. 134-135
- Muskegon County
- pp. 136-137
- Newaygo County
- pp. 138-139
- Oakland County
- pp. 140-142
- Oceana County
- pp. 143-144
- Ogemaw County
- pp. 145-146
- Ontonagon County
- pp. 147-148
- Osceola County
- pp. 149-150
- Oscoda County
- pp. 151-152
- Otsego County
- pp. 153-154
- Ottawa County
- pp. 155-156
- Presque Isle County
- pp. 157-158
- Roscommon County
- pp. 159-160
- Saginaw County
- pp. 161-162
- Sanilac County
- pp. 163-164
- Schoolcraft County
- pp. 165-166
- Shiawassee County
- pp. 167-169
- St. Clair County
- pp. 170-171
- St. Joseph County
- pp. 172-173
- Tuscola County
- pp. 174-175
- Van Buren County
- pp. 176-178
- Washtenaw County
- pp. 179-180
- Wayne County
- pp. 181-183
- Wexford County
- pp. 184-186
- The Michigan Supreme Court
- pp. 187-190
- Selected Bibliography
- pp. 191-198
- List of County Courthouses
- pp. 199-200
- List of County Web Sites
- p. 201