Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. A historic map-sheet match is not published yet. The record needs a coordinate-quality review before it can be joined to a sheet boundary.
“The Huron County Courthouse and Jail is located by a busy downtown intersection in Norwalk, Ohio, United States. The ground floor is composed of rusticated blocks and recessed arched windows.”
Wikipedia article Huron County Courthouse and Jail, CC BY-SA 4.0.
one of 15 National Register listings in Huron County · listed in 1974 · category: District.
Sources: the Wikipedia article · the case file at the National Archives · the National Register database, National Park Service
The chapter on Norwalk Township in Picturesque Huron; or Huron County, Ohio As Seen Through a Camera, published 1896 names Norwalk. This is what it says, exactly as the scans read.
In 183:2, Henry W^. Shaw entered college at Hamilton, X. V.. and remained one year, when he returned home to spend his vacation. When oTi his return trip to college, on a canal boat between Alb.iny an>l Utica. he met as passengers, two adventurers on their wa\ to St. Louis, and their stories of the wild west .so captured the student that college was left in the rear, and he coninned his journey until he reached St. Louis, where he joined a bauil of adventurers who were going across the plains to the Pacific, but owing to troubles with the Indians, the party broke up, leaving young Shaw a tramp in the .streets of St. Louis, from which city he wandered east, arriving in Norwalk, sometime in the winter of l,S:;.')-0, where his brother Robert was then engaged in mercantile business.
Passage source: Picturesque Huron; or Huron County, Ohio As Seen Through a Camera, published 1896.
A representative business man of Norwalk, was born at Wilkesbarre. Penua.. March -!!. IS-IV In IS 17 his parents removed to Huron county Ohio. The subject was educated at the Huron Institute at Milan, an:l in youth taught scIuxjI in this county. Later he devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits, .stone ((uarryinj;, and dealing in real estate. He assisted in laying out the route of the Wheeling and Lake Rrie Railway.
Passage source: Picturesque Huron; or Huron County, Ohio As Seen Through a Camera, published 1896.
Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.
Read the whole chapter on Norwalk Township - 23,684 words on its settlement, mills, schools and churches.
Regional context, not property-specific evidence. Museums hold 845 specimens collected within 10 miles of Huron County Courthouse And Jail between 1893 and 1975: 466 Plantae, 314 Animalia, 64 Fungi, 1 Protozoa. 12 distinct Species records are shown. Collected by A. Woolman, B Zahuranec & party, Baumgartner, L. and others. Each is a physical object with a catalogue number, and each entry opens the museum's record. This is what was collected and kept, not a survey of what lives here - nothing can be concluded from a species being absent.
| Image | Species | Year | Collected by | Where, as recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Rumex verticillatus L. | 1896 | Stair, L. D. | |
 | Enallagma exsulans (Hagen, 1861) | 1898 | [Not Stated] | [Not Stated] |
 | Campostoma anomalum (Rafinesque, 1820) | 1893 | A. Woolman | Ohio, Huron River, Monroeville |
 | Dryopteris carthusiana (Vill.) H.P.Fuchs | 1893 | Collector(s): Edwin Lincoln Moseley | Milan, Huron River |
 | Etheostoma caeruleum Storer, 1845 | 1893 | not recorded | Ohio, Monroeville, Huron River |
 | Etheostoma flabellare Rafinesque, 1819 | 1893 | not recorded | Ohio, Monroeville, Huron River |
 | Etheostoma nigrum Rafinesque, 1820 | 1893 | not recorded | Ohio, Monroeville, Huron River |
 | Hypentelium nigricans (Lesueur, 1817) | 1893 | not recorded | Ohio, Monroeville, Huron River |
 | Lithobates pipiens (Schreber, 1782) | 1893 | not recorded | Monroeville, Huron River |
 | Notropis whipplei (Girard, 1856) | 1893 | A. Woolman | Ohio, Huron River, Monroeville |
 | Noturus flavus Rafinesque, 1818 | 1893 | A. Woolman | Ohio, Huron River, Monroeville |
 | Bidens laevis (L.) Britton, Sterns & Poggenb. | 1894 | Collector(s): Edwin Lincoln Moseley | Huron River, Milan |
All 845 specimens within 10 miles, at the Global Biodiversity Information Facility.
Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 4 workings within 5 miles of Huron County Courthouse And Jail: 3 past producers, 1 producer. 1 still produces. What was taken out: Sand and Gravel, Construction, Stone, Crushed/Broken. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Where | Site | Commodity | Status | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price Sand and Gravel Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | Sedimentary | |
| Price Sand and Gravel Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | ||
| Riley Stone Quarry | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer | Sedimentary | |
| Riley Stone Quarry | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer |
Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Norwalk, the town this property stands in, in 96 storm reports between 1994 and 2025: 58 thunderstorm wind, 28 hail, 6 flash flood, 2 tornado. The reports record 1 death. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.
| When | Event | Place named | Harm | What the report says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 2011 | Flash Flood | Norwalk | 1 killed | A motorist on South Norwalk Road entered flooded waters of a tributary of the Huron River, Cole Creek, in the town of Norwalk. The car was washed into the creek where the driver was killed. Witness report water depths of 2 to 3 feet over the bridge at time of incident. |
| July 2000 | Flash Flood | Norwalk | $500,000 | Thunderstorms dumped torrential rain on Norwalk during the late afternoon and early evening hours. 4.87 inches of rain was measured in Norwalk with 3 inches of that total falling in a 20 minute period around 530 pm. All streets in downtown Norwalk had to be closed because of water up to three feet deep. A car was washed off of a road in Lemar Lake Park. The vehicle became submerged in 5 feet of water. The driver of the car was rescued by fire fighters. Several roads in Norwalk were washed out. Many cars and homes sustained flooding damage. |
| November 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $250,000 | Thunderstorms wind gusts in excess of 60 mph caused considerable damage in Norwalk. Dozens of trees were downed and at least one home sustained structural damage. Over half of the city lost power from the storm. |
| June 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $250,000 | Thunderstorm winds estimated at 60 to 70 mph caused extensive damage in Norwalk. Dozens of trees were downed in the city. Several homes sustained damage, mainly from fallen trees and limbs. A few utility poles were snapped caused scattered power outages. |
| July 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $125,000 | Thunderstorm downburst winds estimated to be at least 60 mph downed many trees and limbs in Norwalk. A vehicle accident on Washington Street was caused by one of the fallen trees. The driver was transported to a local hospital. Scattered power outages were reported in the city. |
| July 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $125,000 | Thunderstorm winds downed dozens of trees and large limbs in and around Norwalk. At least four homes were damaged by trees. |
| January 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $100,000 | A report was received from the Emergency Manager of wind damage to sevral homes in a neighborhood from this event. A survey was conducted and it was noted that several homes in the area lost shingles. One house that had nearly half the shingles blown off actually damaged the house next to it. The severe winds were strong enough to cause the shingles to break through the vinyl siding and plywood exterior of the neighboring house. Shingles were actually found in the attic of the neighboring home. Law enforcement reports from that evening also indicate that several trees were down across the City of Norwalk. |
| June 1997 | Lightning | Norwalk | $100,000 | no account filed |
| July 2013 | Flash Flood | Norwalk | $75,000 | The Norwalk Creek exceeded its banks as it was overwhelmed by runoff from torrential rain. The creek rose quickly and thretened a few homes and businesses which were inundated to their first level. A woman was rescued from her vehicle as the flowing creek overran Lover's Lane Road. |
| July 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $75,000 | Thunderstorm winds toppled two large cinder block walls at a school construction site. |
| September 1994 | Tornado (F1) | Norwalk | $50,000 | A small tornado touched down for a short time in an wooded area and flattened a number of trees. |
| August 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $50,000 | no account filed |
| August 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $45,000 | Thunderstorm winds downed many large trees in Norwalk. At least one home was damaged by a fallen tree. |
| October 2012 | Flood | Norwalk | $40,000 | The Norwalk Reservoir located in Norwalk covers 8.6 square mile drainage area into the Norwalk Creek. The reservoir does not control outflow but does have a spillway on the west side when the reservoir is overtopped. Early Tuesday morning the reservoir filled and the water coming out of the spillway caused the Norwalk Creek to flood. One home on Elm Street flooded though several more were evacuated. Five businesses on Water Street were flooded with as much as 2 feet of water. Once driver was rescued after he drove his car into Water Street. Other local roads in Norwalk were flooded with no property damage. |
| August 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $30,000 | A tree was downed on a house. |
| June 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $25,000 | Several large trees and numerous utility poles were reported down. |
| July 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $25,000 | A 59 mph wind gust was measured in Norwalk and several large trees were downed. A roof of a house and a car were damaged by falling trees. Several trees were also reported down in Willard and Bellevue. |
| August 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $20,000 | A tree fell on a sheriff vehicle. |
| May 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $15,000 | A three foot diameter tree was uprooted and another tree fell on a house in Norwalk. |
| May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $15,000 | Several large trees were snapped or uprooted. |
| July 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $15,000 | Thunderstorm winds downed several trees. |
| July 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $15,000 | Thunderstorm winds downed several trees and large limbs. |
| June 1995 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $12,000 | Large limbs were downed, at least one damaging a house. |
| November 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $10,000 | The Sheriff reported several trees down brought down by thunderstorm winds in Norwalk. |
| May 2007 | Hail | Norwalk | $10,000 | Quarter size hail was observed. |
| June 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $10,000 | A trained spotter estimated winds at 60 mph, with several trees and powers lines down. |
| April 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $10,000 | Thunderstorm winds downed several trees around Norwalk. |
| July 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $10,000 | Thunderstorm winds downed several trees and many large limbs. |
| July 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $10,000 | Thunderstorm winds downed trees south of Norwalk and near Wakeman. |
| June 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $8,000 | Several trees and many large limbs were reported down. |
| May 2011 | Hail | Norwalk | $5,000 | Thunderstorms produced quarter sized hail. |
| August 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $5,000 | Thunderstorm winds downed two trees. |
| May 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $5,000 | A few large limbs and power lines were reported down. |
| June 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $5,000 | Thunderstorm winds downed several large tree limbs. |
| November 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $5,000 | Thunderstorm winds downed several road signs south of Norwalk. |
| June 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $5,000 | Thunderstorm winds downed several trees just east of Norwalk. |
| June 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $5,000 | Large trees downed. |
| May 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $4,000 | Several trees were reported down, along with power lines. |
| December 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $3,000 | A line of showers and thunderstorms downed a couple of trees as it moved through the Norwalk area. |
| July 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $3,000 | The public reported a couple small trees down on a golf course in Norwalk. |
| July 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $3,000 | Thunderstorm winds downed two trees in Norwalk and a large limb in Wakeman. |
| August 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $3,000 | A tree and large limb was reported down. |
| August 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $2,000 | A tree was blown down on a power line. A utility pole was snapped. |
| June 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $2,000 | Thunderstorms winds downed a couple of trees. |
| July 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $2,000 | Thunderstorm winds downed several large tree limbs. |
| November 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $2,000 | Several large limbs were reported down. |
| July 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $2,000 | Thunderstorm winds downed one tree and a large limb east of Norwalk. |
| July 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $2,000 | no account filed |
| May 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $2,000 | no account filed |
| August 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $1,000 | Thunderstorm winds estimated at 60 mph downed a couple large tree limbs. |
| May 2011 | Hail | Norwalk | $1,000 | Thunderstorms produced penny to nickel sized hail. |
| May 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $1,000 | Thunderstorm winds downed a large tree. |
| June 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $1,000 | A few large limbs were reported down. |
| April 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | $1,000 | Four trees were downed. |
| May 2025 | Hail | Norwalk | - | Hail up to penny-size on the southwest side of Norwalk. |
| May 2025 | Hail | Norwalk | - | Hail up to quarter-size on the south side of Norwalk. |
| August 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | - | Two trees downed in Norwalk. |
| May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Norwalk | - | Large tree limbs downed along western side of Norwalk. |
| August 2023 | Flash Flood | Norwalk | - | Widespread road closures due to flooding across Norwalk, Wakeman, and Townsend Township. This includes Wakeman Towline Road at Chappel Creek, Greenwich Milan Townline Road North near Union Road, Lehigh Road south of US-20, and Elm and Water Streets in Norwalk. Radar estimated 2.5 to 4.75 inches of rainfall across this area in a three hour period ending 100 AM EDT August 24, 2023. |
| June 2023 | Flash Flood | Norwalk | - | Multiple road closures reported across the southern portion of Norwalk, including Christie Avenue, Shady Lane Drive, Water Street, and Benedict Avenue. Sewer backups reported in Norwood Avenue. Radar estimated 2 to 2.5 inches of rain fell in one hour. |
No historic map-sheet match is published for this property yet. That does not mean no map exists. This record needs a coordinate-quality review before it can be joined to a sheet boundary. Browse the county's mapped places while that work is pending.
When this property was proposed for the National Register, someone wrote the case for it: what the building is, and why it matters. That document is a federal record in the public domain. It is quoted below word for word, never summarised. The text was read off the scanned case file by machine, so the occasional stray character is the recogniser's and the 1970s typewriter's.
projecting pavilion on the north facade contains a segmental arched Romanesque colonnettes. The dominant feature of the house is the in glazed terra cotta. The highly colored contrast of the brickwork and quite in character with the stylistically unrelated butfunctional juxta- Ruins the pre-fire building. The offices have the high ceilings and heavy The courthouse rests on a high ground story.A central buildings.One is a three-story masonry public courthouse in the
The vertical thrust of the Queen Anne house is more than matched by the tower of the few vertical models available in the classical vocabulary, the of brick built by John S. Hall of Elyria, and a sheriff's residence and jail. In 1882 the courthouse was rebuilt and enlarged in the at an estimated cost of $28,000, and the architect was F.O. second floor of the courthouse, and the present Renaissance of Mansfield was the architect. Commerce Conservation Communications Science Transportation Aboriginal Engineering NATIONAL Military Religion/Phi itarian Prehistoric Landscape Theater pharos, or lighthouse. Political Agriculture Urban Planning Music Invention Social/Human- High Victorian Gothic Style, retaining some of the walls of 1837.
Sculpture imagination, and if one cares for symbolism, express classical Industry justice and medieval punishment. The courthouse is the fourth one on the site,and the jail The primary significance of these two buildings liesin the In 1887 the present sheriff's residence and jail was erected is the third.The first frame buildings were built in 18l8-1819. Architecture SPECIFIC DATES) (If Applicable and Known) (Check One or More as Appropriate) otherwise impoverished commercial street. The unmatched courthouse, for which the architect astutely chose one of the visual impact which they lend to what is rapidly becoming an In 1836-1837 these were replaced by a Greek Revival courthouse Weary.
In 1912 a fire gutted the third floor and much of the REGISTER losophy Art pair makes an unusual but intriguing group, both of which structure was rebuilt from the ruins in 1913.Vernon Redding individually surely constituted what the late Victorian called AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE
The whole case file for this property - 1,398 words, 12 pages, reproduced complete.
Quoted from the National Register nomination for reference 74001534, 12 pages, held by the National Archives in Record Group 79. See the catalogue record.
Other National Register properties close enough to walk or drive between, ordered by distance from this one. Both positions come from the same geocoding pass that matched these properties to their map sheets.
| Photograph | Property | Distance | Listed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benedict, Dr. David De Forest, House | 0.2 miles | 2016 | |
 | Dunton House | 0.4 miles | 1982 |
 | Huron County Children's Home | 0.8 miles | 2004 |
 | Norwalk Memorial Hospital | 1.3 miles | 2007 |
 | Hosford, John, House | 4.2 miles | 1974 |
 | Zion Episcopal Church | 4.7 miles | 1974 |
| National Archives record | The nomination case file for reference 74001534 in Record Group 79. |
| Wikipedia article | Community-written account of this property, licensed CC BY-SA. |
| Huron County | All 15 listed properties in this county. |
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