Proposed New Wayne County Courthouse (1969)

History

On May 20, 1969, a fire broke out in the Wayne County Courthouse (1878-Present), working its way "from a closet in the law library on the third floor to the fourth floor where old records from the various county departments were kept."^[1] Though the damage to the building and records was not extensive, the disaster highlighted the age and vulnerability of the building as well as the increasingly crowded conditions due to the growth of the county government. Within days, the editorial board of the Daily Record publicly suggested that it was time for the county to build a new courthouse.^[2]

By the end of June, a citizens' committee had been formed to study proposals for a new courthouse building, ideally to be situated on city property at West North Street and North Walnut Street. After choosing a plan by mid-July, the county commissioners filed to place two bond issues (to the tune of $3.2 million) on the November 4 ballot for the new county building and a juvenile detention center.^[3]

The artist's rendering of the proposed new courthouse was unveiled on the front page of the Daily Record on October 2, and an information campaign set out to address citizens' questions about the building. But by the time the votes were tallied after the November 4 election, it was clear that the proposed plans would not come to fruition.

Timeline

May 20, 1969: Fire breaks out in 1878 Wayne County Courthouse
May 22, 1969: First calls for a new courthouse
June 25, 1969: Citizens' committee announced to review courthouse proposals
July 15, 1969: Proposed floor plans published in Daily Record
July 29, 1969: Bond issues filed
November 4, 1969: General election to decide bond issues

Newspaper Articles

"Fire Hits Wayne Court House," Daily Record, 20 May 1969, p.1.
"Fire Hits Wayne Court House," Daily Record, 20 May 1969, p.1.
"Wooster Court House Fire Scene Is Told In Photos," Daily Record, 20 May 1969, p.15.
"Wooster Court House Fire Scene Is Told In Photos," Daily Record, 20 May 1969, p.15.
"Wooster Court House Fire Scene Is Told In Photos," Daily Record, 20 May 1969, p.15.
"Volunteers Rush To Aid Smoky 1878 Court House," Daily Record, 20 May 1969, p.16.
"Volunteers Rush To Aid Smoky 1878 Court House," Daily Record, 20 May 1969, p.16.
"County Cleans Up, Moves In At Courthouse," Daily Record, 21 May 1969, p.1.
"County Cleans Up, Moves In At Courthouse," Daily Record, 21 May 1969, p.1.
"Fire In Court House Brings Cooperative Effort," Daily Record, 21 May 1969, p.6.
"Townspeople Pitched In To Help In Courthouse Fire Emergency Tuesday," Daily Record, 21 May 1969, p.21.
"Townspeople Pitched In To Help In Courthouse Fire Emergency Tuesday," Daily Record, 21 May 1969, p.21.
"New Courthouse Needed For Wayne County," Daily Record, 22 May 1969, p.6.
"Citizens Group Will Study Wayne Courthouse Proposals," Daily Record, 25 June 1969, p.1.
"County Building Project Needs Citizen Support," Daily Record, 26 June 1969, p.6.
"Wayne Gets $3.2 Million Building Plan," Daily Record, 15 July 1969, p.1.
"Wayne Gets $3.2 Million Building Plan," Daily Record, 15 July 1969, p.1.
"We Need Courthouse, And Juvenile Center," Daily Record, 15 July 1969, p.6.
"Court House, More Fund Issues Filed," Daily Record, 29 July 1969, p.1.
"First Plans For 4-Floor Courthouse Viewed," Daily Record, 4 September 1969, p.1.
"New Wayne Co. Courthouse Plans Shown," Daily Record, 6 September 1969, p.15.
"New Wayne Co. Courthouse Plans Shown," Daily Record, 6 September 1969, p.15.
"Wayne Co. Auditor Gives Case For Courthouse Issue," Daily Record, 27 September 1969, p.17.
"Proposed Courthouse," Daily Record, 2 October 1969, p.1.
"New County Building Need Must Be Faced Sometime," Daily Record, 7 October 1969, p.6.
"LWV Airs All Sides Of New Courthouse Issues," Daily Record, 8 October 1969, p.13.
"LWV Airs All Sides Of New Courthouse Issues," Daily Record, 8 October 1969, p.13.
"LWV Airs All Sides Of New Courthouse Issues," Daily Record, 8 October 1969, p.13.
"Years of Planning Back Of Courthouse," Daily Record, 21 October 1969, p.6.
"Courthouse Picture Is Being Displayed Throughout County," Daily Record, 24 October 1969, p.17.
"Wayne Co. Courthouse Issue Will Be Decided By Area Voters On Tuesday," Daily Record, 28 October 1969, p.13.
"Must We Bury Good Old Things Of Wooster?" Daily Record, 28 October 1969, p.20.
"Question Isn't Whether But How To Get Space," Daily Record, 29 October 1969, p.27.
"Why Not High Rise Courthouse On Square?" Daily Record, 30 October 1969, p.3.
"Student Favors Youth Vote, County Building," Daily Record, 31 October 1969, p.2.
"Why Is Daily Record For New County Building?" Daily Record, 1 November 1969, p.6.
"A New Wayne County Building, Who Needs It?" Daily Record, 3 November 1969, p.7.
"Voters Reject New Taxes," Daily Record, 5 November 1969, p.1.
"New Courthouse Approach Needed," Daily Record, 5 November 1969, p.6.