Allen County Courthouse Preservation Trust

07/09/2024

Celebrating this couple today! Congratulations Chase and Taylor!!

01/10/2024

Can we take a minute for this couple? Congratulations Amanda and Jordan!!

12/14/2023

It’s Engagement Season!! Abby + Reid chose the Allen County Courthouse for their engagement pictures with . We can’t wait to celebrate this beautiful couple next spring at their wedding!

11/30/2023

As the calendar moves towards winter we want to remember these gorgeous fall couples. Congratulations to Kaitlyn and Nathan.

09/04/2023

These bas reliefs in the east alcove of the Circuit Courtroom were created by Wm. Barth and Robert Staak and illustrate peaceful pastimes.

“Hunting”
“Horticulture”
“Fishing”
“Agriculture”
“Pioneer Life”

08/28/2023

Do you enjoy art, architecture, and local history? Would you like to help share the story of this National Historic Landmark? Consider becoming a docent for the Allen County Courthouse Preservation Trust!

If interested, send an email to [email protected] or call (260) 449.4246

08/22/2023

These bas reliefs in the alcove of Superior Courtroom 2 were created by Wm. Barth and Robert Staak and represent the creation of the canal as a new means of transportation.

“Old methods of transportation”
“Breaking ground for the stupendous undertaking of joining the waters of Lake Erie with the Mississippi River by means of ‘the Wabash and Erie Canal’”
“Completion of canal, 1843”
“Shows the new means of transportation by boats”

08/08/2023

The architect's original ink on linen drawings of the rotunda designate space for artwork. Today, the original Charles Holloway murals are still hanging in the rotunda. Both blueprints are currently on display at the Fort Wayne Museum of Art in "An American Renaissance in Fort Wayne: Muralists from the Allen County Courthouse." The exhibition focuses on the lives and work of courthouse muralists Charles Holloway and Carl Gutherz and is open until September 10, 2023.

The exhibition includes artwork on loan from the Allen County Courthouse Preservation Trust and the History Center: Allen County-Fort Wayne Historical Society, as well as work generously donated by the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art.

07/13/2023

Touring the Courthouse is a great summer activity! ☀ Check out the majestic views and learn more about this piece of local history. Stop by for a personal walking tour, or schedule a guided tour with a trained docent!

The Courthouse is open Monday – Friday from 8:00am–4:30pm Booklets for self-guided tours are available for no cost at the security desk. To schedule a tour with a docent, email [email protected] or call (260) 449.4246. A donation of $5 per person is recommended for guided tours.

07/10/2023

The Circuit Court features 3 colors of scagliola, bas reliefs, murals, pediments, and a stained glass dome. The bas reliefs represent the different aspects of war, the accompaniments of Peace, and peaceful pastimes. The murals were painted by Carl Gutherz and feature the themes “Founders of Laws,” “Justice Prominent,” and “Court as Mediator.” The pediments represent the four seasons.

07/06/2023

Many of the walls and columns of the Allen County Courthouse are made of scagliola, a faux marble. The scagliola found at the courthouse is of exceptionally high quality and variety, featuring 28 different colors and 24 unique patterns.

Master Craftsman Niel Wiffill maintains the scagliola in the courthouse. He makes small repairs every year to prevent the building from falling into disrepair.

To create scagliola, Wiffill dyes plaster with pigment, then adds glue to the mixture to make the plaster tougher and easier to polish. After the new plaster has dried, Wiffill gently sands down the area until it is smooth and shiny.

07/03/2023

These bas reliefs on the South wall of the Circuit Court were created by Wm. Barth and Robert Staak and represent the different aspects of war.

“The Call to War” – a messenger on horseback sounds the call as a father urges his son to fight and Columbia directs a soldier towards the battle
“Marching to War” – soldiers say goodbye to their loved ones as they march towards the Sun of Liberty
“War, the Terrible” – the goddess of War and god of Death ride over a battlefield filled with fighting men and slain soldiers
“Victory, or Triumph” – a young man representing the Power of Right is crowned the victor after defeating the Dragon of Wrong
“The Return from War” – a family welcomes home a returning soldier while a widow and child receive the belongings of their family member who was slain in battle

06/26/2023

Superior Courtroom 1 features shades of dark green scagliola and bas reliefs that represent the government, arts, sciences, and industry.

06/21/2023

The Fort Wayne Museum of Art is presenting "An American Renaissance in Fort Wayne: Muralists from the Allen County Courthouse," from July 15 through September 10, 2023. The exhibition will focus on the lives and work of courthouse muralists Charles Holloway and Carl Gutherz.

The exhibition will include artwork on loan from the Allen County Courthouse Preservation Trust and The History Center: Allen County-Fort Wayne Historical Society, as well as work generously donated by the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art.

Pictured is the working study for Holloway's "Joy and Peace" mural, which will be featured in the exhibition. "Joy and Peace" is one of four murals Holloway painted for the Allen County Courthouse. The original restored murals still hang in the Courthouse rotunda today.

06/14/2023

My name is Lauren Banks, and I am the 2023 summer intern for the Allen County Courthouse Preservation Trust! I am a student at Trine University, where I'm pursuing a degree in Communication with a minor in Marketing. This summer, I'll be managing the Trust's social media accounts and newsletter.

I'm excited to work in such a beautiful and historic building, and I'm looking forward to creating content that highlights how magnificent the Allen County Courthouse truly is.

04/20/2023

Thank you, Sherrill Colvin and others who contribute to the preservation of the Allen County Courthouse—a National Historic Landmark in the heart of Fort Wayne. Join us today in Give Greater Allen!
Www.givegreaterallen.com/organizations/Allen-county-courthouse-preservation-trust

04/20/2023

Join us today for Give Greater Allen!

04/19/2023

Thank you, Jan Paflas and others who contribute to the Allen County Courthouse. Join us on April 20th for www.givegreaterallen.com.

09/07/2022

View from the office.

08/29/2022

Wedding Season is still in full swing. Congratulations Aleia and Derek!!

07/14/2022

"For decades, citizens of Allen County have walked across the floors of its courthouse. Unbeknownst to most, the floors of the Allen County Courthouse are a unique feature of the building; a feature noted on its application for National Historic Landmark status."

Check out this month's newsletter from the Trust!

Photo Credit: Jared Christiansen
https://conta.cc/3PxCesx

Preserving the Tradition Preserving the Tradition Encaustic Tiles: A History For decades, citizens of Allen County have walked across the floors of its courthouse. Unbeknownst to most, the floors of t

07/13/2022

The Trust is excited to announce that our monthly e-newsletter is now available for sign-up!

Learn more about the Trust and the Allen County Courthouse, as well as keep up-to-date with upcoming events and restoration projects.

This month features Herman Mueller's encaustic tiles in the Allen County Courthouse.

Sign-up on our website to receive your monthly e-newsletter.

Photo credit: Jared Christiansen
https://www.allencountycourthouse.org/contact/

07/04/2022

For this Independence Day, we at the Trust would like to honor our Lady Liberty, who is perched atop of the courthouse. As a wind vane, she points towards wherever the wind blows and, although armed with a sword, she lays it gently upon her left shoulder---- a symbol for progress and peace.

Happy Fourth of July from the Trust!

Photo credit to John McGauley

06/22/2022

This month, the Allen County Courthouse Preservation Trust’s e-newsletter highlighted the blueprints of the courthouse. The original working blueprints are kept at the Allen County Public Library, but copies are often referenced for restoration projects.

The Trust is giving away a set of frameable prints (11x4) as well as a guided tour through the courthouse. To enter the giveaway, you must be following us on Facebook and like, share, and tag one other person in the comments.

You can enter the giveaway twice by following us on Instagram and liking, sharing, and tagging on our post there.

A winner will be randomly selected on June 29th!

06/08/2022

The Allen County Courthouse Preservation Trust enthusiastically introduces our summer 2022 intern, Brittney Rumschlag. Brittney is an upcoming senior at Purdue Univeristy-Fort Wayne, pursuing a B.A. in English. Brittney will be taking over the Trust's social media and collaborating on our e-newsletter for the rest of the summer.

We are looking forward to seeing her skills as a writer flourish on the Trust's social platforms.

Welcome to the Trust, Brittney!