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228:'s design for the spacious four-story United States Courthouse and Custom House to be located within the civic center. The new federal building would replace the overcrowded 1888 federal building located at Madison Avenue and St. Clair streets. Constructed between 1930 and 1932, the new building was celebrated as "a monument of efficiency" for combining all federal offices in Toledo under one roof. The building is a notable example of
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traditions. It is located at the northwest end of Toledo's extensively landscaped civic center. The exterior has remained largely intact since the building's completion in 1932. The rectangular, four-story building rests on a sandstone basement and contains two light courts that admit natural light
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Although the courthouse has accommodated various functions since its construction, it has remained in continuous use. These functional changes resulted in major renovations of the interior, most notably to office areas. Overall, the spaces retaining significant historic features and finishes are
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In 1962, several agencies relocated from the 1932 building to the newly constructed federal building on Summit Street. As a result, the building underwent renovations to accommodate the remaining departments, including installation of a central air-conditioning system. In the 1970s, the building
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planning principles suited their vision for a monumental government center. Toledo's 1924 master plan formalized the concept. By 1925, the city purchased the quadrangle bounded by
Jackson, Erie, and Orange streets and Spielbusch Avenue. The civic center's first structure was constructed in 1926.
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The second floor consists of a centrally located, two-story courtroom and a one-story courtroom located on the south end, each accessed by leather-clad, wood doors. The two-story courtroom was extensively renovated in 1998. The walls consist of
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flooring inlaid with a marble border. The walls are clad with floor-to-ceiling, flat marble panels. The corridor retains its original plaster ceiling featuring recessed panels trimmed with gold-painted floral leaf moldings and pendant
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and bronze grilles, and a decorative plaster ceiling. The ceiling consists of recessed panels and cross beams featuring decorative medallions. The furniture in the smaller courtroom was relocated from a federal building in
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and main stairway for the building. The elevators are set into a marble surround and feature paneled bronze doors decorated with flower medallions. Each elevator surround includes a glazed, bronze-colored, plaster
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and plaster. Fluted pilasters divide the upper portion of the walls. New elevated benches and witness stands were also added in 1998. The smaller, one-story courtroom contains plaster walls with wood
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into the structure. The first-story exterior is faced with rusticated, buff-colored limestone panels, and sandstone covers the exterior of the second and third stories. A standing-seam copper,
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In the 1990s, exterior window repair and replacement occurred as well as additional interior renovations for the
District Courts and offices. The United States Courthouse is listed on the
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steps lead to projecting, three-bay, centrally located entrance pavilions topped with pediments. "United States Court House and Custom House" is carved into the
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span the second and third floors of each elevation, and paired, Corinthian pilasters are located at each corner. A dentil course decorates the projecting
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236:. In the early 1940s, Toledo's civic center was extensively landscaped to include an expanse of open space, trees, and a glass-block fountain.
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As early as 1909, Toledo's leaders explored the idea of developing a civic center within the city. Intrigued with the philosophy of the
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that dominated public building design throughout the early twentieth century. The style incorporated elements of the
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in Toledo and was constructed during the ambitious public works program developed in response to the
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and pediments of the building. A granite balustrade lies within the parapet topped with
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The principal lobbies and corridors retain white and gray speckled
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James M. Ashley and Thomas W.L. Ashley United States
Courthouse
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United States
District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
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lobbies, corridors, and two courtrooms on the second floor.
244:. The customs service and FBI vacated the building in 1981.
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1980 Building determined eligible for listing in the
259:The courthouse is a distinguished example of the
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388:1929 U.S. Courthouse and Custom House designed
422:Landmark Status: Eligible for listing in the
385:1926 First civic center building constructed
223:Supervising Architect of the U.S. Treasury
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35:U.S. National Register of Historic Places
27:United States Courthouse and Custom House
514:Federal courthouses in the United States
504:Buildings and structures in Toledo, Ohio
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494:Government buildings completed in 1932
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291:On the west and east elevations, wide
240:underwent further renovations for the
175:United States Courthouse, Toledo, Ohio
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424:National Register of Historic Places
399:National Register of Historic Places
249:National Register of Historic Places
394:1963-1964 U.S. Courthouse renovated
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193:, and his great grandson, Democrat
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444:from websites or documents of the
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419:Architectural Style: Neoclassical
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440: This article incorporates
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410:Location: 1716 Spielbusch Avenue
346:The east lobby includes the two
261:Neoclassical architectural style
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499:Beaux-Arts architecture in Ohio
446:General Services Administration
271:, Early Classical Revival, and
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391:1930-1932 Building constructed
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416:Construction Dates: 1930-1932
101:Show map of the United States
209:, officials determined that
16:United States historic place
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413:Architect: James A. Wetmore
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230:Neoclassical architecture
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147:NRHP reference
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139:Architectural style
287:Exterior column detail.
207:City Beautiful movement
114:1716 Spielbusch Avenue,
442:public domain material
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242:U.S. Bankruptcy Court
142:Neoclassical Revival
509:Courthouses in Ohio
470:41.6575°N 83.5361°W
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280:caps the building.
217:In 1929, architect
195:Thomas W. L. Ashley
380:Significant events
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309:Corinthian columns
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219:Graham H. Woolfall
475:41.6575; -83.5361
221:presented Acting
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374:Youngstown, Ohio
342:Elevator detail.
234:Great Depression
226:James A. Wetmore
201:Building history
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134:James A. Wetmore
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117:Toledo, Ohio
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430:Attribution
369:wainscoting
278:hipped roof
488:Categories
461:83°32′10″W
458:41°39′27″N
211:Beaux Arts
179:courthouse
348:elevators
185:built in
131:Architect
357:handrail
328:terrazzo
265:Georgian
154:13000501
111:Location
353:transom
313:cornice
301:Engaged
293:granite
269:Federal
181:of the
177:, is a
317:coping
305:fluted
297:frieze
123:Built
169:The
126:1932
149:No.
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