The Macomb County Building at 10 North Main Street in downtown Mount Clemens was designed by architect George J. Haas, of St. Clair Shores. The building replaced a previous courthouse from 1880. The land itself had been deeded to Macomb County by Christian Clemens, founder of Mt. Clemens, with the stipulation that it be utilized as a county seat. The cornerstone was laid on July 1, 1931. However, due to the onslaught of the Great Depression, construction was halted. On June 5, 1933, a second dedication ceremony was held for the unfinished structure. Construction continued for more than a decade in piecemeal fashion with funds from various sources, including the Civil Works Administration, Public Works Administration and Works Progress Administration, as well as $17,000 donated by the Veteran's Administration. Workers were paid from current and delinquent taxes. Total cost of construction was $605,000. When the building was being planned, a military motif was favored, due to the location's close proximity to Selfridge Air National Guard Base. Atop the building are carved figures emblematic of the branches of military at the time (soldier, sailor, marine and aviator) as well as a nod to the county's past with Native American and American Revolution soldier. The soldier and marine were strategically placed to gaze in the direction of Selfridge. The exterior features an array of other relief work, most notably figures representing justice and a recorder that flank either side of the main entrance. Several renovations have taken place over the years, such as the replacement of the manually operated elevators in 1974 and air conditioning in 1975. On April 17, 2013, an electrical fire broke out in the building, displacing approximately 200 county employees. In 2016, the Macomb County Building reopened after more than 3 years and a $19 million renovation, the facility's first complete modernization in its over 80-year history. #MetroDetroit #MountClemens #MacombCounty #ArtDeco #Modernism #GeorgeJHaas #GratiotAvenue #archi_ologie #ModMondayz #thedecodarling #PureMichigan #PureMittigan #VisitDetroit #Michiganders #ThisPlaceMatters #MichiganPlacesMatter (at Old Macomb County Building) https://www.instagram.com/p/B6rkkaylNGT/?igshid=scufiojul855
