This Richardsonian Romanesque building was designed by Indianapolis Architect George Bunting and Sons in 1889. The cornerstone for this, the county's third courthouse, was laid October 29, 1889 and the building was completed in 1891.

The sandstone walls represent the best expression of the Richardsonian style with the Queen Anne style in the county. Other examples have been obliterated by "progress."

These photos are courtesy of the photographer, Paul L Bender (pbender@parlorcity.com), of the Wells County Historical Society, Bluffton, Indiana in 1998 with a digital camera (signs, cables, etc. were digitally removed).

The courthouse, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (Reg. 1979), has had minor restoration projects during the last few years.

A major 5-year program has been implemented to restore the building to last another 100 years.

Writes Paul: "I appreciate and agree with your editorial on our tendency to trash old buildings. Other parts of the country do a much better job than we in Indiana do. Along in the 1960-1970 period, many of our downtown buildings were "modernized" by covering with aluminium.

"Interestingly, a friend was the first to cover his building, but with the resurgence of revitalization, he was the first to restore his building and become a leader in the process. I have a building and I would never have covered the brick. Now it fits right in, with its interior tin ceiling."

Stewart-Studebaker house (reg. 1979)

414 W Market St - Bluffton

(This fine building is the home of the Wells County Historical Society museum, pictured on its site at http://wchs-museum.org/)

Bethel Church (reg. 1984)

4500 East, 300 South - Bluffton

Villa North Historic District (reg. 1985)

North Main St - Bluffton (State Road #1)

And the downtown business district has been restored and is in the process of being registered.