Family Favorites: The Fountain City Court House

What is the history of Bryan Ohio?

In 1888, the Williams County Courthouse was constructed on the city square. The beautiful structure is still a focal point today, having undergone several renovations that kept the architectural integrity while ensuring the building will last for future generations.

Bryan was platted in 1840 by John A. Bryan and named for him. It was incorporated as a village in 1841, and reincorporated as a city in 1941. Williams County was originally part of Defiance County, with Defiance as the county seat. The area was later split into Williams and Defiance counties.

The Williams County Courthouse downtown was completed in 1891. It is the third courthouse to occupy the property. The Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway, later absorbed into the New York Central Railroad as part of its Chicago mainline, began serving Bryan in 1869.

Bryan was formed in 1840 and named after John A. Bryan, a former Ohio auditor and the person who donated the land for the county seat. Also known as the Fountain City, Bryan earned the nickname thanks to a network of underground springs. These cold, artesian wells were valuable to the area’s first settlers, both as a means of fresh water and as a way to preserve food before modern refrigeration.

Throughout the years, several major manufacturers have called Bryan home, including Spangler Candy Company, Ohio Art, Bard Manufacturing and Aro Corporation. With respect for the past and eyes toward the future, local residents and investors have worked to preserve beautiful historical structures while paving the way for modern infrastructure.

To learn more about the history of our community and its residents, visit the Williams County Public Library Local History & Genealogy Center in Bryan or the Williams County Historical Society, located on the Williams County Fairgrounds in Montpelier.

References[edit]

1. ^“2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files”. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
   1. ^ Jump up to:^a b “US Board on Geographic Names”. United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
   2. ^ Jump up to:^a b c d “U.S. Census website”. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2013-01-06.
   3. ^ “Population and Housing Unit Estimates”. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
   4. ^ Jump up to:^a b c “U.S. Census website”. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
   5. ^ “Find a County”. National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
   6. ^ Jump up to:^a b c “Archived copy”. Archived from the original on 2014-02-22. Retrieved 2015-11-03.
   7. ^ “Bryan, Ohio – Ohio History Central”. www.ohiohistorycentral.org. Retrieved 19 April 2018.