Midland County Historical Society Publishes Log Commemorating 100th Anniversary of the Midland County Courthouse

As Midland County prepares to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the historic Midland County Courthouse, the Midland County Historical Society has published the latest issue of The Midland Log on the building’s remarkable history.

The latest issue, “A History of the Midland County Courthouse: The Art of a Developing Community,” was written by Historical Society council member Ken Randall.

The Midland Log was just named a 2025 State History Award winner by the Historical Society of Michigan in the category of Communications: Printed Periodicals. The recognition was presented during the 151th Annual Meeting and Michigan History Conference in Alpena.

Randall, a former employee of the courthouse, brings both personal perspective and historical insight to the article, tracing the evolution of the building from its 1858 origins to the building’s completion in 1926. Along the way, he unpacks the stories depicted today in the courthouse’s murals: scenes that chronicle the region’s early Native American presence, fur trading outposts, and the logging and agriculture industries that shaped the local economy.

Relaunched in 2023 after a decade-long pause, the Historical Society’s journal has since published four issues covering topics from the Tittabawassee Boom Company to Midland’s prohibition years. Each issue requires hundreds of hours of research and editing by volunteer authors and editors, alongside the staff at Midland Center for the Arts. The new State History Award underscores the journal’s growing impact and community value.

In the latest issue, Randall uses extensive research and storytelling to highlight the architectural influence of Bloodgood Tuttle, the people who’ve worked in the building, and traditions like Christmas at the courthouse. The Log arrives just ahead of two key milestones in 2025: the 170th anniversary of Midland County’s first judge, Samuel Gaskill, and the centennial of the building’s first official use.

The Midland Log is a bi-annual publication exploring local history through original research, archival photos, and community storytelling. Copies are free for members of the Museum at Midland Center for the Arts, and available to the public for $8 at the Midland Center Ticket Office.

To learn more about the Midland County Historical Society, visit midlandcenter.org/history.