Some of the most beautiful buildings are in the Downtown area of Sault Ste. Marie. This picture is of the Court House, which has been completely restored. There are two statues on the front lawn of the Courthouse. The statue in this picture is "The Crane of the Sault". The statue was given by Stella B. Osborn , wife of the only governor from the Upper Peninsula , Chase S. Osborn. The dedication of the statue was on June 8, 1985.
The statue depicts the Chippewa Legend of two young brothers who fled their wicked mother, who was pursuing them with the intent to kill them. When they reached the north shore of the St. Mary’s Rapids they were met by a crane, who after hearing their story carried them to the south shore of the rapids. The Crane then met the mother on the north shore and agreed to transport her to the other side. Instead, the crane dropped the mother in the rapids. When she hit the stones below, the mother’s skull cracked open and her brains became the whitefish that inhabit the rapids to this day. The crane adopted the boys and one of them remained in the area, married the daughter of the crane, and founded Bahweting.
The Wolf of Rome
Mrs. Stella B. Osborn commissioned the statue as a personal and suitable memorial to Chase S. Osborn and asked that it be placed in close proximity to the “Wolf of Rome”, since both statues were representations of the founding of ancient cities.She gave the monument to the citizens of the Sault area as a reminder that they are citizens of an ancient city rich with a wonderful history and legacy.
Memorial on Lawn of Historical Courthouse
The stone is in Memory of Reverend Abel Bingham, Baptist Missionary to the Indians and forerunner of the First Baptist Church founded in 1855 in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
National Register of Historic Places
Chippewa County Courthouse
The Chippewa County Courthouse was built in 1877 and stands on the site of Reverend Abel Bingham’s mission. Reverend Bingham was sent to Sault Ste. Marie by the American Baptist Missionary Society in the late 1820’s. Here on the court house lot, he organized a temperance society and school.
The Chippewa County Courthouse, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in October 1984, is an example of the Second Empire style of construction common to the late 1800’s. Its architect, John Scott, was also responsible for a number of other buildings in the State, but the Chippewa County Courthouse was one of the first he designed.
The walls of the Courthouse are two feet thick, which makes for a very solid structure. The front of the building has three bays, with a central pavillion, which projects beyond the others. Above it is the clock and bell towers. This is one of the most impressive features of the Courthouse. Above the third floor, facing Maple Street is a "Statue of Justice."
The statue is made of wood. Each bay of the tower has three tall windows, and above, a clock face. These clock faces are set into each of the four sides, where you can view them lit up at night. This is a beautiful Historical Building.
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