Original docket with reference to the actual creation of the Lorain County Common Pleas Court in 1824. (Courtesy of Lorain County Common Pleas Court)
Lorain County is celebrating its bicentennial with many activities in May, but the U.S. Attorney's Office and Recorder's Office wants more people to know about its origins and the services it has provided for 200 years. What you are thinking is worthy of praise.
Lorain County Common Pleas Court, located in the Lorain County Judicial Center at 225 Court Street in downtown Illyria, can be daunting and scary for some who have to appear before a judge, but for others can be interesting, fun, and engaging.
However, it is important that people understand the meaning and purpose of the court system and its role in maintaining order.
Court officials would like residents to stop by during an open house on May 24 in the courtroom and possibly the judge's chambers.
A short gala will be held with speakers.
Visitors will receive a commemorative pin and a book detailing the history of the Lorain County Common Pleas Court.
One of the unique parts of this celebration will be in the lobby of the Justice Center, where the original docket containing the very entries that actually created the county courthouse in 1824 will be on display.
The Lorain County Historical Society supported the exhibit by providing several books and photographs highlighting the history of the court.
The gavel used by Judge D.A. Cook, grandfather of current Common Pleas Judge D. Chris Cook, will also be on display.
Local historian Don Hilton has collected the history of all county judges.
Hilton, who will be speaking at the event, researched and discovered photos of the jurors along with historical information.
The jurors' exhibits can be viewed on the 6th and 7th floors.
Some judges have left an impact on Lorain County.
Judge Guy Findley is one of the most fascinating judges. Many people know about Findlay State Park, which bears his name.
Findley purchased farmland in the 1930s and donated it to the state of Ohio in the 1940s, where it was maintained as a permanent national forest.
Findlay Forest later became known as Findlay State Park.
The Common Pleas Courthouse plans to install a photographic timeline in the jury assembly room documenting the history of the court, the local jail, and the various buildings used for courthouses.
The Lorain County Common Pleas Court has operated in four courthouses for two centuries, with the first courthouse located at the southwest corner of Middle Avenue and Broad Street.
Another interesting fact about Lorain County is that before there was a district court, the community depended on circuit judges who occasionally came to town for sentencing days.
Now, to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the first deed recorded in Lorain County, Recorder Mike Dolan and his staff are inviting the public to an open house on May 10th at 226 Middle Avenue in downtown Illyria. I'm inviting you.
The first deed was recorded on May 11, 1824.
The Recorder's Office maintains a complete, accurate, and permanent record of all documents relating to the transfer and occupancy of land within the County.
Some of the historical documents found in the records of the Recorder's Office will be on display.
Without the work of a recorder to preserve and organize all the documents, it would be nearly impossible to purchase land and be assured of clear title, or to lend money using the land as collateral.
From 1824 to 1997, the Recorder's Office compiled approximately 4,000 books to properly manage property records using a grantor/grantee index system to help users search and find records. I have accumulated books.
In 1997, the Recorder's Office began using an image records management system in which all documents were scanned and indexed into a searchable database.
Since then, various projects have added pre-1997 records to the search site, including all lease records, platform and Torrence documents.
In August 2021, the Recorder's Office began implementing a document preservation plan by securing funding to digitize all records not included in the previous project.
The effort included scanning nearly 3,000 indexes and registers, including deeds and mortgage records.
As of October 2023, all scans have been completed.
The images are now edited, sorted, and added to the archive section of the search site.
Over the past 200 years, the Recorder's Office has processed an astonishing 3,000,000 documents.
It took until August 1978 to reach one million recordings, and the second million was reached in May 2004.
In the little less than 20 years since then, the Office of the Recorder has filed more than 950,000 documents.
The Common Pleas Court and the Recorder's Office want people to know more about their work and, if possible, would like residents to attend an open house to see how the agency works. There is.
