Barnum School

Avoca Bank Building (Closed)
Avoca, MI
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

Avoca, MI is home to this neat little Avoca Bank Building. It may be one of the smallest old bank buildings around, but its brickwork, stone trim, and classic design give it plenty of character. For a town the size of Avoca, it must have been an important place back in the day. 10-08

The bank was built during the early 1900s when farming and the nearby railroad helped support the local economy. Farmers, merchants, and area businesses would have come here to handle their banking long before online transactions or even drive-up windows were a thing.

The bank eventually closed, but fortunately the building survived. Rather than being torn down, it was converted into a private residence while keeping much of its original exterior intact. It's always nice to see a small-town landmark find a second life instead of disappearing altogether.

UPDATE: The old bank building is still standing and now serves as a private residence, preserving another small piece of Avoca's history. 07-26

Hancock County Courthouse
Findlay, OH
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

Findlay, OH is home to the impressive Hancock County Courthouse, one of those buildings that instantly catches your attention. The massive stone exterior, soaring clock tower, and ornate architecture make it look more like a castle than a county courthouse. 02-08

Construction began in 1886, and the courthouse opened two years later to replace an earlier building on the site. Designed in a mix of Richardsonian Romanesque, Victorian, and Palladian styles, it's easily one of the most recognizable landmarks in downtown Findlay.

Take a look at the top of the tower and you'll spot one of its most distinctive features. Standing high above the city is a 16-foot copper statue of John Hancock, with figures representing Law, Justice, and Mercy positioned just below the clock faces. It's the kind of detail that's easy to miss unless you stop and look up.

The courthouse has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1973 and continues to serve as Hancock County's courthouse today. It's always nice to see a building like this still doing the job it was built for more than a century ago.

UPDATE: The courthouse remains beautifully preserved and continues to serve Hancock County. It's still one of the standout buildings in downtown Findlay. 07-26

Redpath Memorial Presbyterian Church
Cross Village, MI
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

Check out Redpath Memorial Presbyterian Church in Cross Village, MI. Built of native fieldstone, this picturesque little church looks right at home along the Tunnel of Trees. It's one of those buildings that seems to belong exactly where it stands. 02-08

The congregation dates back to the late 1880s, but its original wooden church was destroyed in the devastating 1918 fire that swept through much of Cross Village. Rather than give up, the community rebuilt, completing this handsome stone church in 1921.

The rebuilding effort was led by Reverend John Redpath, who, despite being 80 years old, helped raise funds and worked to make the new church a reality. After his death in 1926, the congregation renamed it in his honor.

Today the church continues to host seasonal services and remains one of the most recognizable landmarks in Cross Village. Along with nearby Legs Inn, it's one of those places that makes a drive along M-119 worth slowing down for.

UPDATE: Redpath Memorial Presbyterian Church remains beautifully preserved and continues to welcome visitors and seasonal worship services. 07-26

Michigan Central Railroad Depot (Closed)
Ann Arbor, MI
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

Here's the old Michigan Central Railroad Depot in Ann Arbor, MI. Built of heavy fieldstone, this handsome depot has all the character you'd hope to find in a railroad station from the late 1800s. These days the trains still roll by, but the passengers aren't waiting for one—they're enjoying dinner instead. 05-08

The depot was built in 1886 and opened the following year, replacing an earlier station that had been lost to fire. For decades it welcomed travelers arriving in Ann Arbor, including University of Michigan students, visitors, and even a few U.S. presidents during campaign whistle-stop tours.

When passenger service declined, the depot closed in the late 1960s. Fortunately, the building escaped demolition and found a new life as the Gandy Dancer restaurant. The name comes from the nickname given to railroad workers who maintained the tracks, making it a fitting tribute to the building's past.

One of the best parts about eating here is that the railroad never really went away. Amtrak trains still pass just outside the windows, giving diners a front-row seat to the same tracks that have been busy for well over a century.

UPDATE: The beautifully restored depot continues to operate as the Gandy Dancer restaurant while trains still pass by on the adjacent tracks every day. 07-26

Old Federal Building (Closed)
Hannibal, MO
Photo and info courtesy Richard Weiss

Check out the Old Federal Building in Hannibal, MO. With its rugged red brick, limestone trim, steep rooflines, and arched entrances, this is one of those buildings that immediately stands out on Broadway. It looks more like a castle than a government office. 07-08

Construction began in the 1880s after Congress authorized the project, and the building opened in 1888 as Hannibal's U.S. Post Office and Federal Court. For decades it handled everything from mail service to federal court proceedings and other government offices before those functions moved across the street to a newer federal building in 1960.

The architecture is what really makes this place memorable. Designed in the Chateauesque and High Victorian Romanesque styles, it's packed with heavy stonework, tall gables, and intricate brick detailing that simply isn't found on many public buildings anymore.

Today the old federal building has been repurposed for commercial offices, but its exterior remains largely unchanged. It's another one of those downtown buildings that's well worth slowing down to admire while exploring Hannibal.

UPDATE: The Old Federal Building is still standing and has found a new life as commercial office space while retaining its impressive historic appearance. 07-26

Hannibal City Hall
Hannibal, MO
Photo and info courtesy Richard Weiss

Check out Hannibal City Hall, a building that originally served as the city's courthouse. Built in 1906, its massive limestone walls, arched entrance, and impressive clock tower make it one of the standout buildings in downtown Hannibal. 07-08

For many years this was much more than just City Hall. It housed the city courthouse, police headquarters, jail, and other municipal offices all under one roof. It's the kind of building that was designed to project strength and permanence, and more than a century later it still does.

Today the building continues to serve as Hannibal City Hall, proving that some historic buildings never really retire—they simply keep doing the job they were built to do.

UPDATE: Hannibal City Hall remains beautifully preserved and continues to serve as the city's municipal headquarters. 07-26

DeKalb County Courthouse
Auburn, IN
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

Check out the DeKalb County Courthouse in Auburn, IN. Sitting in the middle of the town square, this impressive limestone building is hard to miss with its massive columns and classic courthouse design. 10-08

Construction began in 1911, and the courthouse officially opened in 1914. Designed in the Neoclassical style, it was built from Indiana limestone and remains one of the architectural highlights of downtown Auburn.

While the exterior is impressive, the real surprise is inside. A beautiful stained-glass dome fills the rotunda with natural light, highlighting the marble walls and decorative details that have welcomed visitors for more than a century.

The courthouse is also the centerpiece of downtown during the annual Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival, when the streets around the square fill with some of the finest classic automobiles in the country. It's a fitting backdrop in a town so closely tied to automotive history.

UPDATE: The courthouse continues to serve DeKalb County and remains one of the best-preserved landmarks in downtown Auburn. 07-26