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Dedication of the Madison County Court House, Anderson, IN, September 22, 1973

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The original documents are located in Box D35, folder "Dedication of the Madison County Court House, Anderson, IN, September 22, 1973" of the Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library. Copyright Notice The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. The Council donated to the United States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections. Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library. Digitized from Box D35 of The Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library DEDICATION OF THE MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA, COURT HOUSE AT ANDERSON, INDIANA, 1 P.M. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1973. Dave But Iddho LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT IS A REAL HONOR AND PRIVILEGE FOR ME TO BE HERE WITH YOU TODAY. WHAT A GREAT OCCASION -- THE DEDICATION OF THIS SPLENDID NEW COURT HOUSE BUILDING IN MADISON COUNTY, THE HEART OF AMERICA'S HEARTLAND! IT IS A GREAT OCCASION BECAUSE IT IS A MEANINGFUL OCCASION. IT HAS TREMENDOUS SIGNIFICANCE FOR ALL OF YOU HERE AND, INDEED, IT HAS SIGNIFICANCE FOR ALL OF AMERICA. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU -- THIS OFFICIAL DEDICATION OF THE FINE NEW BRICK BUILDING YOU CALL YOUR COURT HOUSE? I THINK I KNOW THE ANSWER. THIS BUILDING IS A LOT MORE THAN JUST BRICK AND MORTAR. BERALD FORD VIBRARY -2- This crust it location were Homals The & that The focal preceded print your IT STANDS FOR SOMETHING. IT STANDS AT the gave country THE CENTER OF YOUR LIVES. YOUR LIVES is in is of REVOLVE AROUND THIS BUILDING AND THE CITY BUILDING ACROSS THE STREET BECAUSE THIS today & it has in The past CITY BLOCK CONSTITUTES A CIVIC POLITICAL AND SOCIAL CENTER FOR ALL OF MADISON COUNTY. YOU KEPT YOUR NEW COURT HOUSE TRADITIONAL -- A LOT OF BRICK AND NOT TOO MUCH GLASS AND METAL -- BECAUSE TRADITION IS IMPORTANT TO YOU. TRADITION SITS AT The THE CORE OF YOUR LIVES. YOU HAVE FOUND chatrons The part There no an incryption in the Notromal archors Bldg in Capital No THE BEST WAY TO DO THINGS, AND THAT'S THE WAY YOU WANT TO KEEP IT. YOU CAN BE PROUD OF THIS NEW BUILDING -- AND PROUD OF YOURSELVES, TOO. I THINK IT'S WONDERFUL THAT THIS NEW you deserve special Commonation COURT HOUSE IS ENTIRELY LOCALLY FUNDED. -3- NO FEDERAL MONEY. NO STATE MONEY. YOU'RE PAYING FOR IT RIGHT OUT OF YOUR POCKETS. THE SAME WITH THE CITY BUILDING. MADISON COUNTY FOLKS ARE A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THE PROUDEST TRADITION WE HAVE IN THIS COUNTRY -- PEOPLE DOING THINGS FOR THEMSELVES. AT THE SAME TIME, I'D LIKE TO SAY YOU'VE COME A LONG WAY SINCE THAT DAY IN SEPTEMBER OF 1823 WHEN THE FIRST COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MET IN A PRIVATE RESIDENCE IN PENDLETON AND HAD TO REMOVE A BED FROM THE ROOM SO THEY'D HAVE ENOUGH SPACE FOR THEIR MEETING. I JOIN WITH YOU IN OBSERVING MADISON COUNTY'S 150th ANNIVERSARY, AND I'M SURE YOU'RE ALL LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR SESQUICENTENNIAL PARADE. from 2 Community Lonia wine who alders GERALD R.FORD LIBRAR. a its means, but our -4- I MENTIONED EARLIER HOW PLEASED I AM THAT YOUR NEW COURT HOUSE IS ENTIRELY LOCALLY FINANCED. THAT CONTRASTS SO VERY SHARPLY WITH THE MOVEMENT THAT ALL OF YOU KNOW HAS BEEN GOING ON IN THIS COUNTRY 4 decades IN THE PAST -- THE UNINTERRUPTED FLOW OF POWER AND DECISION-MAKING FROM THE STATES AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO THE BUREAUCRATS IN WASHINGTON. THERE HAS BEEN A MUSHROOMING GROWTH IN FUNDS AND AUTHORITY WHICH HAVE RESULTED IN AN OVERCENTRALIZATION AND BUREAUCRATIZED FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. beauting in The WORST OF ALL, MUCH OF THE POWER -- AND WITH IT THE INITIATIVE AND THE CREATIVITY -- OF OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO ATROPHY. AND ALTHOUGH THE FEDERAL ESTABLISHMENT WAS GROWING BY LEAPS AND BOUNDS IT WAS LARGELY FAILING many many -5- IN ITS ATTEMPTS TO SOLVE SOME OF THE NATION'S MOST PRESSING SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC PROBLEMS -- HOUSING, WELFARE TRANSPORTATION. THE POLLUTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT, AND THE DECAY OF OUR CITIES. IN SHORT, THE GROWING COMPLEXITIES OF THE WORLD'S FIRST ADVANCED INDUSTRIAL SOCIETY HAVE MADE THE SOLUTIONS OF PROBLEMS BY A CENTRAL GOVERNMENT, FAR REMOVED FROM THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE, MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT. WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT? I AM CONVINCED THAT THE ANSWER LIES IN REVERSING THE FLOW OF POWER AND RESOURCES FROM WASHINGTON BACK TO THE STATES AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES. I REFER TO THE CONCEPT OF "THE NEW FEDERALISM" -- THE CREATING OF FORD & LIBRARY GERALD -6- new A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN FEDER AL STATE AND In The decade The 70s LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. SAY WE SHOULD PREPARE TO COPE WITH THE ONRUSHING FUTURE THROUGH LOCAL PLANNING, LOCAL SOLUTIONS, AND LOCAL ACTIONS. WHY SHOULD WE BELIEVE THAT WASHINGTON HAS A CORNER ON ALL THE INTELLIGENCE AND WISDOM REQUIRED TO SOLVE THE HOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION PROBLEMS OF OUR CITIES? IMAGINE WHAT A RICH HARVEST OF SOLUTIONS WE MIGHT REAP IF DEDICATED YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN IN 100 CITIES new WERE SEEKING, ANSWERS TO THESE PROBLEMS FOR THEIR OWN HOME TOWNS AND TAILORING THOSE SOLUTIONS TO THE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS V. OF THEIR HOME TOWNS, INSTEAD OF ACCEPTING 4 Stanlardeyed the A ILL-FITTING PLANS FROM WASHINGTON. of GETALD Rx FORD -7- FOR TOO LONG, LOCAL OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN REQUIRED TO WAIT PASSIVELY FOR WORD FROM WASHINGTON -- AND FOR THE BUCK THAT IMBUED THAT WORD WITH WISDOM. IS IT ANY WONDER THAT THE BRIGHT YOUNG PEOPLE WHO MIGHT HAVE HELPED SAVE THEIR CITIES HAVE SUFFERED THE FRUSTRATION AND ALIENATION THAT GO WITH POWERLESSNESS? AT THE SAME TIME, OUR PEOPLE, WITNESSING THE IMPOTENCE OF THEIR LOCAL OFFICIALS AND COMPARING IT WITH THE POWER OF THE WASHINGTON BUREAUCRATS, LOST FAITH IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND LOST INTEREST IN THEIR TOWNS AND CITIES. UNDER THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE NEW FEDERALISM -- THE SPIRIT OF MADISON COUNTY, IF YOU WILL -- THIS WILL CHANGE. GLRALD FORD LIBRARY -8- INSTEAD OF ALIENATION OUR PEOPLE WILL EXPERIENCE THE POWER THAT A REAL SENSE OF PURPOSE GIVES. INSTEAD OF THE MUCH-DISCUSSED FEELING OF ROOTLESSNESS THEY WILL REDISCOVER THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND PRIDE OF PLACE THAT WERE ONCE A PRIMARY SOURCE OF AMERICA'S GREATNESS. INSTEAD OF THE "I-JUST-DON'T-WANT-TO-GET-INVOLVED" PHILOSOPHY, OUR PEOPLE WILL FIND THEIR INSTINCTS FOR DEMOCRATIC ACTION AND OBLIGATION WHETTED BY THE FEELING THAT THEY CAN INDEED EXERCISE SOME REAL EFFECTIVE CONTROL OVER THE FORCES THAT SHAPE THEIR LIVES. Local decision making. WE HAVE ENACTED GENERAL REVENUE SHARING TO GIVE STATES AND -9- LOCAL COMMUNITIES MORE FINANCIAL MUSCLE. BUT SOMETHING ELSE NEEDS TO BE PROVIDED IF WE ARE TO REVITALIZE LOCAL GOVERNMENT THE WAY IT SHOULD BE. WE SHOULD ALSO ENACT SPECIAL REVENUE SHARING LEGISLATION WHICH WOULD HELP BRING DECISION-MAKING CLOSER TO HOME IN THE FIELDS OF EDUCATION LAW ENFORCEMENT MANPOWER TRAINING AND URBAN REDEVELOPMENT. WE MUST DO MORE THAN SIMPLY RETURN POWER AND REVENUE TO OUR CITIES AND STATES. WE MUST ALSO INSURE THAT, GIVEN THE POWER AND THE MONEY, THEY DEVELOP THE LEADERSHIP AND THE DECISION-MAKING MACHINERY TO USE THAT POWER AND MONEY WISELY IN MANAGING CHANGE IN REACHING OUR GREAT GOALS. SERVID FORD LIBRARY -10- WE MUST AS I SAID EARLIER, DEVELOP A TRUE AND WORKING PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AT ALL LEVELS IF WE ARE TO SOLVE OUR MOST PRESSING SOCIAL PROBLEMS. YOUR MADISON COUNTY COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS -- WITH THE THREE MAYORS AND THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ALL CENTERED IN YOUR COURT HOUSE -- IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF GOVERNMENT WORKING TOGETHER. IF WE COULD GET EVEN A SEMBLANCE OF THAT KIND OF GOVERNMENTAL COOPERATION AT THE VARIOUS LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT IN THIS COUNTRY -- FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL -- WE COULD MAKE TREMENDOUS PROGRESS IN THE SOLUTION OF OUR PROBLEMS. LIBRARY -11- I AM VERY PLEASED AS I LOOK ABOUT HERE TODAY AT HOW MADISON COUNTY FOLKS HAVE BEEN DOING IN MEETING THEIR NEEDS. YOUR DOWNTOWN IMPROVEMENTS ARE MOST IMPRESSIVE INCLUDING THIS NEW GOVERNMENT CENTER, THE NEW CITY BUILDING, THE NEW 11-STORY OFFICE AND SAVINGS AND LOAN BUILDING, AND THE NEW BANK BUILDING. YOURS IS A COMMUNITY WHICH HAS CLEARLY BEEN UPGRADING AND MODERNIZING ITSELF. AS I SAID EARLIER, YOU HAVE COME A LONG WAY SINCE THOSE DAYS IN 1823 WHEN THE FIRST SESSIONS OF COURTWERE HELD AT WILLIAM MSCARTNEY'S HOUSE IN PENDLETON. AS YOU ALL KNOW, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BUILT A COURT HOUSE AND JAIL AT PENDLETON IN 1824 FOR THE CONDUCT OF INDIAN TRIALS. THEN THAT BUILDING COLLAPSED AND THE GERALD FORD LIBRARY -12- COURT MET IN 1825 AND '26 AT THE HOME OF MOSES PEARSON IN PENDLETON. AND THERE'S A MOST INTERESTING STORY ABOUT HOW THE COUNTY SEAT WAS RELOCATED FROM PENDLETON TO ANDERSON. JOHN BERRY OFFERED TO DONATE 32 ACRES FOR THE PURPOSE BUT IT TURNED OUT THE PROPERTY WAS IN HAMILTON COUNTY INSTEAD OF MADISON. THE PROPERTY HAD TO BE ANNEXED TO MADISON SO THE DONATION COULD BE ACCEPTED BY THE COMMISSIONERS. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, THE NEW COURT HOUSE WE ARE DEDICATING HERE TODAY IS THE THIRD COURT HOUSE TO BE BUILT ON THIS SITE. THE FIRST COURT HOUSE BUILT ON THIS SPOT WAS CONSTRUCTED IN 1837 AND THE SECOND IN 1885. -13- TODAY WE DEDICATE THIS FINE NEW BUILDING TO ITS FIRST USE. WE DEDICATE IT IN THE NAME OF THE PEOPLE OF MADISON COUNTY AND WE STATE, MOST EMPHATICALLY THAT IT BELONGS TO THEM. WE DEDICATE IT IN THE SPIRIT OF "DOING FOR OURSELVES," THE SPIRIT OF THE NEW FEDERALISM, AND -- I HOPE -- A NEW SPIRIT OF SOCIAL PROGRESS IN AMERICA. and, one final want - in 2 short years, the united States will celebrate its Breentinmal 200 you 1 the oldest government m the world Today where the people control their goot their destry. Their maybe some disnlasment 1 Dimolong is The writ from of got COMMISSIONERS PADDOCK, BAKER m the I but AND ALFORD WITH THE UNVEILING OF it's the best THIS PLAQUE, THE MADISON COUNTY COURT that Knowl. wer been HOUSE IS HEREBY DEDICATED TO THE USE AND ENJOYMENT OF THE CITIZENS OF MADISON COUNTY. GERALD B+ FORD VIBRARY Franklin W hat have you power no a minarchy or a Republic a Republic if you com Lup. MADISON COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER - FACT SHEET The site for this building is a city block 215 feet square located in the center of the downtown shopping center in a city of 70,000 people and a former site of two previous County courthouses. The site is bounded on each side by wide city streets. Three of which have one way traffic. The site has a ten foot difference in grade elevations from the South-east corner to the North-west corner. The program was to design a County Government Center to replace an earlier 20,000 square feet building built on the site 85 years ago. Provide 95,000 square feet of space for courtrooms and all other County offices and departments. The contours of the site solve parking problems inexpensively. Buy utilizing the Northwest corner from Meridian Street one can enter the underground parking level at present street level and utilizing the entire site with one parking level under the building. The city block must also remain as a civic, political and social center of the City and County. For this reason, the street level space was designed primarily as a large exterior public plaza, much of it covered. The plaza contains a podium for political speeches, rallies and reviewing stands for public parades. The plaza contains garden walls. a fountain, trees and an area to display relics from the former courthouse buildings. The basement contains the mechanical equipment room, the Sheriff and Coroners offices, dead storage room and 85 parking spaces. The first floor is the smallest floor which will house the Treasurer, Council of Governments, Central records, Data Processing and the Auditors offices. The second floor is larger and located there are the Clerk, Canteen, Recorder, Township Assessor, County Assessor, Planning Commission, Surveyor and Voters Registration offices. The third floor is still larger and contains the Prosecuting Attorney, County Council, County Commissioners, Agriculture Agent, Board of Health and Welfare offices. The fourth floor houses all courts and court related facilities. We have four large courtroom suits, each containins Judges chamber, conference room, jury room, detention and reporters room and general office space. This floor also has two hearing rooms, four court commissioners offices, baliff offices, court clerks filing area, probation officers and a law library. The officials of Madison County attempted to replace the old brick traditional structure. For 25 years, however, the citizens were not willing to exchange the building for a new glass and steel modern structure. We chose the generous use of brick and minimum of glass and metal in hopes the citizens could better relate to its courthouse history. The building was started in May 1972. GERALD LIBRARY SESSIONS OF MADISON COUNTY COURT 2 BEDROOM HOME. z Main Some removed bed to hold count 1. First sessions of Court were held at Milliam McCartney's house in Pendleton. 23. Sessions met thene from first session of September 1823 until: 2. The Federal Government built a new court house and jail at Pendleton in April 8, 1824. for tudians trials 3. above 3. Upon collaspe of the old building the Court met at the home of Moses Pearson - in 1825-1826 in Pendleton. 4. John Berry proposed a donation of 32 acres for relocation of the County seat from Pendleton to ANderson. County was unable to accept ground in that it was in Hamilton County instead of Madison County. Ground was annexed to Madison County and donation was accepted by Commissionerss. 5. Commissioners met at John Berry house ( Chief Anderson's home which stood on site of present jail.). Berry's donation of land extended from 8th to 11th from Meridian St to the River. Samuel C. Woodworth and Norman Way, resurveyed the ground, since the first survey was imperfect. 6. First actual Court session in Anderson was held in home of Wm. Curtis @ 82 North Main Street. ((Curtis was a fromer resident of Pendleton who moved from Pendleton, when County seat was relocated.)). 7. First Court House built on East 8th eats of Main Str eet between Main and Central about where the Lovett Building was (old Gas Company building) November 15, 1831. 8. Second Courthouse built in centre of present public square April 5, 1837 finished November 1, 1837. 135 SALD FORD VIBRARY 9. Second Court house burned in 1880. Howel Water Co Hon thereff - Nort is 10 Then court met at Westerfield Block on North Main Street. 11. Rebted Hannah & Boring Building which stood on the North side of the square. 12. Present court house started in 1882 Enished 1885. 32,000 sheetter 13 Present stated count our house 1971 started in 1971 1822 its base Thanked lat in brostoner mood in spout. 1930'h livel on lawn D tave until 1923 Trie bell. 25 copies to Indianal S/C. O OFFICE COPY REMARKS BY REP. GERALD R. FORD, R-MICH. REPUBLICAN LEADER, U. S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AT THE DEDICATION OF THE MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA, COURT HOUSE AT ANDERSON, INDIANA 1 P.M. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1973 FOR RELEASE ON DELIVERY Ladies and gentlemen, it is a real honor and privilege for me to be here with you today. What a great occasion -- the dedication of this splendid new Court House building in Madison County, the heart of America's heartland! It is a great occasion because it is a meaningful occasion. It has tremendous significance for all of you here and, indeed, it has significance for all of America. What does it mean to you -- this official dedication of the fine new brick building you call your court house? I think I know the answer. This building is a lot more than just brick and mortar. It stands for something. It stands at the center of your lives. Your lives revolve around this building and the city building across the street because this city block constitutes a civic, political and social center for all of Madison County. You kept your new court house traditional -- a lot of brick and not too much glass and metal -- because tradition is important to you. Tradition sits at the core of your lives. You have found the best way to do things, and that's the way you want to keep it. You can be proud of this new building -- and proud of yourselves, too. I think it's wonderful that this new court house is entirely locally funded. No federal money. No state money. You're paying for it right out of your own pockets. The same with the city building. Madison County folks are a great example of the proudest tradition we have in this country -- people doing things for themselves. At the same time, I'd like to say you've come a long way since that day in September of 1823 when the first county commissioners met in a private residence in Pendleton and had to remove a bed from the room so they'd have enough space for their meeting. I join with you in observing Madison County's 150th anniversary, and I'm sure you're all looking forward to your sesquicentennial parade. (more) Page 2 I mentioned earlier how pleased I am that your new court house is entirely locally financed. That contrasts so very sharply with the movement that all of you know has been going on in this country in the past -- the uninterrupted flow of power and decision-making from the states and local communities to the bureaucrats in Washington. There has been a mushrooming growth in funds and authority which have resulted in an overcentralized and bureaucratized Federal government. Worst of all, much of the power -- and with it the initiative and the creativity -- of our local governments has been allowed to atrophy. And although the Federal establishment was growing by leaps and bounds, it was largely failing in its attempts to solve some of the nation's most pressing social and economic problems -- housing, welfare, transportation, the pollution of the environment, and the decay of our cities. In short, the growing complexities of the world's first advanced industrial society have made the solutions of problems by a central government, far removed from the lives of the people, more and more difficult. What to do about it? I am convinced that the answer lies in reversing the flow of power and resources from Washington back to the states and local communities. I refer to the concept of "The New Federalism" -- the creating of a partnership between Federal, State and local governments. I say we should prepare to cope with the onrushing future through local planning, local solutions, and local actions. Why should we believe that Washington has a corner on all the intelligence and wisdom required to solve the housing and transportation problems of our cities? Imagine what a rich harvest of solutions we might reap if dedicated young men and women in 100 cities were seeking answers to these problems for their own home towns! And tailoring those solutions to the individual needs of their home towns, instead of accepting ill-fitting plans from Washington. For too long, local officials have been required to wait passively for word from Washington -- and for the buck that imbued (more) Page 3 that word with wisdom. Is it any wonder that the bright young people who might have helped save their cities have suffered the frustration and alienation that go with powerlessness? At the same time, our people, witnessing the impotence of their local officials and comparing it with the power of the Washington bureaucrats, lost faith in local government and lost interest in their towns and cities. Under the philosophy of the New Federalism --- the spirit of Madison County, if you will -- this will change. Instead of alienation, our people will experience the power that a real sense of purpose gives. Instead of the much-discussed feeling of rootlessness, they will rediscover the sense of community and pride of place that were once a primary source of America's greatness. Instead of the "I-just-don't-want-to-get-involved" philosophy, our people will find their instincts for democratic action and obligation whetted by the feeling that they can indeed exercise some real, effective control over the forces that shape their lives. We have enacted general revenue sharing to give states and local communities more financial muscle. But something else needs to be provided if we are to revitalize local government the way it should be. We should also enact special revenue sharing legislation which would help bring decision-making closer to home in the fields of education, law enforcement, manpower training and urban redevelopment. We must do more than simply return power and revenue to our cities and states. We must also insure that, given the power and the money, they develop the leadership and the decision-making machinery to use that power and money wisely in managing change, in reaching our great goals. We must, as I said earlier, develop a true and working partnership between government at all levels if we are to solve our most pressing social problems. Your Madison County Council of Governments -- with the three mayors and the county commissioners all centered in your (more) Page 4 court house -- is a good example of government working together. If we could get even a semblance of that kind of governmental cooperation at the various levels of government in this country -- Federal, state and local -- we could make tremendous progress in the solution of our problems. I am very pleased as I look about here today at how Madison County folks have been doing in meeting their needs. Your downtown mall is most impressive, with its new ll-story office and bank building and the new court house as the center. Yours is a community which has clearly been upgrading and modernizing itself. As I said earlier, you have come a long way since those days in 1823 when the first sessions of court were held at William McCartney's house in Pendleton. As you all know, the Federal Government built a court house and jail at Pendleton in 1824 for the conduct of Indian trials. Then that building collapsed and the court met in 1825 and '26 at the home of Moses Pearson in Pendleton. And there's a most interesting story about how the county seat was relocated from Pendleton to Anderson. John Berry offered to donate 32 acres for the purpose but it turned out the property was in Hamilton County instead of Madison. The property had to be annexed to Madison so the donation could be accepted by the commissioners. To make a long story short, the new court house we are dedicating here today is the third court house to be built on this site. The first court house built on this spot was constructed in 1837, and the second in 1885. Today we dedicate this fine new building to its first use. We dedicate it in the name of the people of Madison County, and we state, most emphatically, that it belongs to them. We dedicate it in the spirit of "doing for ourselves," the spirit of the New Federalism, and -- I hope -- a new spirit of social progress in America. ### Distribution 25 copies to Frank Fries SE Indiana M OFFICE COPY REMARKS BY REP. GERALD R. FORD, R-MICH. REPUBLICAN LEADER, U. S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AT THE DEDICATION OF THE MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA, COURT HOUSE AT ANDERSON, INDIANA 1 P.M. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1973 FOR RELEASE ON DELIVERY Ladies and gentlemen, it is a real honor and privilege for me to be here with you today. What a great occasion -- the dedication of this splendid new Court House building in Madison County, the heart of America's heartland! It is a great occasion because it is a meaningful occasion. It has tremendous significance for all of you here and, indeed, it has significance for all of America. What does it mean to you -- this official dedication of the fine new brick building you call your court house? I think I know the answer. This building is a lot more than just brick and mortar. It stands for something. It stands at the center of your lives. Your lives revolve around this building and the city building across the street because this city block constitutes a civic, political and social center for all of Madison County. You kept your new court house traditional -- a lot of brick and not too much glass and metal -- because tradition is important to you. Tradition sits at the core of your lives. You have found the best way to do things, and that's the way you want to keep it. You can be proud of this new building -- and proud of yourselves, too. I think it's wonderful that this new court house is entirely locally funded. No federal money. No state money. You're paying for it right out of your own pockets. The same with the city building. Madison County folks are a great example of the proudest tradition we have in this country -- people doing things for themselves. At the same time, I'd like to say you've come a long way since that day in September of 1823 when the first county commissioners met in a private residence in Pendleton and had to remove a bed from the room so they'd have enough space for their meeting. I join with you in observing Madison County's 150th anniversary, and I'm sure you're all looking forward to your sesquicentennial parade. (more) Page 2 I mentioned earlier how pleased I am that your new court house is entirely locally financed. That contrasts so very sharply with the movement that all of you know has been going on in this country in the past -- the uninterrupted flow of power and decision-making from the states and local communities to the bureaucrats in Washington. There has been a mushrooming growth in funds and authority which have resulted in an overcentralized and bureaucratized Federal government. Worst of all, much of the power -- and with it the initiative and the creativity -- of our local governments has been allowed to atrophy. And although the Federal establishment was growing by leaps and bounds, it was largely failing in its attempts to solve some of the nation's most pressing social and economic problems -- housing, welfare, transportation, the pollution of the environment, and the decay of our cities. In short, the growing complexities of the world's first advanced industrial society have made the solutions of problems by a central government, far removed from the lives of the people, more and more difficult. What to do about it? I am convinced that the answer lies in reversing the flow of power and resources from Washington back to the states and local communities. I refer to the concept of "The New Federalism" --- the creating of a partnership between Federal, State and local governments. I say we should prepare to cope with the onrushing future through local planning, local solutions, and local actions. Why should we believe that Washington has a corner on all the intelligence and wisdom required to solve the housing and transportation problems of our cities? Imagine what a rich harvest of solutions we might reap if dedicated young men and women in 100 cities were seeking answers to these problems for their own home towns! And tailoring those solutions to the individual needs of their home towns, instead of accepting ill-fitting plans from Washington. For too long, local officials have been required to wait passively for word from Washington -- and for the buck that imbued (more) Page 3 that word with wisdom. Is it any wonder that the bright young people who might have helped save their cities have suffered the frustration and alienation that go with powerlessness? At the same time, our people, witnessing the impotence of their local officials and comparing it with the power of the Washington bureaucrats, lost faith in local government and lost interest in their towns and cities. Under the philosophy of the New Federalism -- the spirit of Madison County, if you will -- this will change. Instead of alienation, our people will experience the power that a real sense of purpose gives. Instead of the much-discussed feeling of rootlessness, they will rediscover the sense of community and pride of place that were once a primary source of America's greatness. Instead of the "I-just-don't-want-to-get-involved" philosophy, our people will find their instincts for democratic action and obligation whetted by the feeling that they can indeed exercise some real, effective control over the forces that shape their lives. We have enacted general revenue sharing to give states and local communities more financial muscle. But something else needs to be provided if we are to revitalize local government the way it should be. We should also enact special revenue sharing legislation which would help bring decision-making closer to home in the fields of education, law enforcement, manpower training and urban redevelopment. We must do more than simply return power and revenue to our cities and states. We must also insure that, given the power and the money, they develop the leadership and the decision-making machinery to use that power and money wisely in managing change, in reaching our great goals. We must, as I said earlier, develop a true and working partnership between government at all levels if we are to solve our most pressing social problems. Your Madison County Council of Governments -- with the three mayors and the county commissioners all centered in your (more) Page 4 court house -- is a good example of government working together. If we could get even a semblance of that kind of governmental cooperation at the various levels of government in this country -- Federal, state and local -- we could make tremendous progress in the solution of our problems. I am very pleased as I look about here today at how Madison County folks have been doing in meeting their needs. Your downtown mall is most impressive, with its new ll-story office and bank building and the new court house as the center. Yours is a community which has clearly been upgrading and modernizing itself. As I said earlier, you have come a long way since those days in 1823 when the first sessions of court were held at William McCartney's house in Pendleton. As you all know, the Federal Government built a court house and jail at Pendleton in 1824 for the conduct of Indian trials. Then that building collapsed and the court met in 1825 and '26 at the home of Moses Pearson in Pendleton. And there's a most interesting story about how the county seat was relocated from Pendleton to Anderson. John Berry offered to donate 32 acres for the purpose but it turned out the property was in Hamilton County instead of Madison. The property had to be annexed to Madison so the donation could be accepted by the commissioners. To make a long story short, the new court house we are dedicating here today is the third court house to be built on this site. The first court house built on this spot was constructed in 1837, and the second in 1885. Today we dedicate this fine new building to its first use. We dedicate it in the name of the people of Madison County, and we state, most emphatically, that it belongs to them. We dedicate it in the spirit of "doing for ourselves," the spirit of the New Federalism, and -- I hope -- a new spirit of social progress in America. ###

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    "title": "Dedication of the Madison County Court House, Anderson, IN, September 22, 1973",
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    "ocrText": "The original documents are located in Box D35, folder \"Dedication of the Madison County\nCourt House, Anderson, IN, September 22, 1973\" of the Ford Congressional Papers: Press\nSecretary and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.\nCopyright Notice\nThe copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of\nphotocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. The Council donated to the United\nStates of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.\nWorks prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public\ndomain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to\nremain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid\ncopyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.\nDigitized from Box D35 of The Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library\nDEDICATION OF THE MADISON COUNTY, INDIANA,\nCOURT HOUSE AT ANDERSON, INDIANA, 1 P.M.\nSATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1973.\nDave But Iddho\nLADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT IS A\nREAL HONOR AND PRIVILEGE FOR ME TO BE HERE\nWITH YOU TODAY. WHAT A GREAT OCCASION --\nTHE DEDICATION OF THIS SPLENDID NEW COURT\nHOUSE BUILDING IN MADISON COUNTY, THE HEART\nOF AMERICA'S HEARTLAND! IT IS A GREAT\nOCCASION BECAUSE IT IS A MEANINGFUL\nOCCASION. IT HAS TREMENDOUS SIGNIFICANCE\nFOR ALL OF YOU HERE AND, INDEED, IT HAS\nSIGNIFICANCE FOR ALL OF AMERICA.\nWHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU -- THIS\nOFFICIAL DEDICATION OF THE FINE NEW BRICK\nBUILDING YOU CALL YOUR COURT HOUSE? I\nTHINK I KNOW THE ANSWER. THIS BUILDING IS\nA LOT MORE THAN JUST BRICK AND MORTAR.\nBERALD FORD VIBRARY\n-2- This crust it location were Homals The & that The focal preceded print your\nIT STANDS FOR SOMETHING.\nIT STANDS AT the gave country\nTHE CENTER OF YOUR LIVES.\nYOUR LIVES\nis\nin is\nof\nREVOLVE AROUND THIS BUILDING AND THE CITY\nBUILDING ACROSS THE STREET BECAUSE THIS\ntoday & it has in The past\nCITY BLOCK CONSTITUTES A CIVIC POLITICAL\nAND SOCIAL CENTER FOR ALL OF MADISON\nCOUNTY.\nYOU KEPT YOUR NEW COURT HOUSE\nTRADITIONAL -- A LOT OF BRICK AND NOT TOO\nMUCH GLASS AND METAL -- BECAUSE TRADITION\nIS IMPORTANT TO YOU. TRADITION SITS AT\nThe\nTHE CORE OF YOUR LIVES. YOU HAVE FOUND chatrons The part\nThere no an incryption in the Notromal archors Bldg in\nCapital\nNo\nTHE BEST WAY TO DO THINGS, AND THAT'S THE\nWAY YOU WANT TO KEEP IT.\nYOU CAN BE PROUD OF THIS NEW\nBUILDING -- AND PROUD OF YOURSELVES, TOO.\nI THINK IT'S WONDERFUL THAT THIS NEW\nyou deserve special Commonation\nCOURT HOUSE IS ENTIRELY LOCALLY FUNDED.\n-3-\nNO FEDERAL MONEY. NO STATE MONEY.\nYOU'RE PAYING FOR IT RIGHT OUT OF YOUR\nPOCKETS. THE SAME WITH THE CITY BUILDING.\nMADISON COUNTY FOLKS ARE A GREAT EXAMPLE\nOF THE PROUDEST TRADITION WE HAVE IN THIS\nCOUNTRY -- PEOPLE DOING THINGS FOR THEMSELVES.\nAT THE SAME TIME, I'D LIKE TO\nSAY YOU'VE COME A LONG WAY SINCE THAT DAY\nIN SEPTEMBER OF 1823 WHEN THE FIRST\nCOUNTY COMMISSIONERS MET IN A PRIVATE\nRESIDENCE IN PENDLETON AND HAD TO REMOVE\nA BED FROM THE ROOM SO THEY'D HAVE ENOUGH\nSPACE FOR THEIR MEETING. I JOIN WITH YOU\nIN OBSERVING MADISON COUNTY'S 150th\nANNIVERSARY, AND I'M SURE YOU'RE ALL\nLOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR SESQUICENTENNIAL\nPARADE.\nfrom 2 Community Lonia wine who alders\nGERALD R.FORD LIBRAR.\na\nits\nmeans, but our\n-4-\nI MENTIONED EARLIER HOW PLEASED\nI AM THAT YOUR NEW COURT HOUSE IS ENTIRELY\nLOCALLY FINANCED. THAT CONTRASTS SO VERY\nSHARPLY WITH THE MOVEMENT THAT ALL OF YOU\nKNOW HAS BEEN GOING ON IN THIS COUNTRY\n4 decades\nIN THE PAST -- THE UNINTERRUPTED FLOW OF\nPOWER AND DECISION-MAKING FROM THE STATES\nAND LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO THE BUREAUCRATS\nIN WASHINGTON. THERE HAS BEEN A\nMUSHROOMING GROWTH IN FUNDS AND AUTHORITY\nWHICH HAVE RESULTED IN AN OVERCENTRALIZATION\nAND BUREAUCRATIZED FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.\nbeauting in The\nWORST OF ALL, MUCH OF THE POWER --\nAND WITH IT THE INITIATIVE AND THE\nCREATIVITY -- OF OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS\nHAS BEEN ALLOWED TO ATROPHY. AND ALTHOUGH\nTHE FEDERAL ESTABLISHMENT WAS GROWING BY\nLEAPS AND BOUNDS IT WAS LARGELY FAILING\nmany many\n-5-\nIN ITS ATTEMPTS TO SOLVE SOME OF THE\nNATION'S MOST PRESSING SOCIAL AND\nECONOMIC PROBLEMS -- HOUSING, WELFARE\nTRANSPORTATION. THE POLLUTION OF THE\nENVIRONMENT, AND THE DECAY OF OUR CITIES.\nIN SHORT, THE GROWING\nCOMPLEXITIES OF THE WORLD'S FIRST ADVANCED\nINDUSTRIAL SOCIETY HAVE MADE THE SOLUTIONS\nOF PROBLEMS BY A CENTRAL GOVERNMENT, FAR\nREMOVED FROM THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE,\nMORE AND MORE DIFFICULT.\nWHAT TO DO ABOUT IT?\nI AM CONVINCED THAT THE ANSWER\nLIES IN REVERSING THE FLOW OF POWER AND\nRESOURCES FROM WASHINGTON BACK TO THE\nSTATES AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES.\nI REFER TO THE CONCEPT OF \"THE\nNEW FEDERALISM\" -- THE CREATING OF\nFORD & LIBRARY GERALD\n-6-\nnew\nA PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN FEDER AL STATE AND\nIn The decade The 70s\nLOCAL GOVERNMENTS. SAY WE SHOULD\nPREPARE TO COPE WITH THE ONRUSHING\nFUTURE THROUGH LOCAL PLANNING, LOCAL\nSOLUTIONS, AND LOCAL ACTIONS.\nWHY SHOULD WE BELIEVE THAT\nWASHINGTON HAS A CORNER ON ALL THE\nINTELLIGENCE AND WISDOM REQUIRED TO SOLVE\nTHE HOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION PROBLEMS\nOF OUR CITIES? IMAGINE WHAT A RICH\nHARVEST OF SOLUTIONS WE MIGHT REAP IF\nDEDICATED YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN IN 100 CITIES\nnew\nWERE SEEKING, ANSWERS TO THESE PROBLEMS\nFOR THEIR OWN HOME TOWNS AND TAILORING\nTHOSE SOLUTIONS TO THE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS\nV.\nOF THEIR HOME TOWNS, INSTEAD OF ACCEPTING\n4 Stanlardeyed\nthe\nA\nILL-FITTING PLANS FROM WASHINGTON.\nof\nGETALD Rx FORD\n-7-\nFOR TOO LONG, LOCAL OFFICIALS\nHAVE BEEN REQUIRED TO WAIT PASSIVELY\nFOR WORD FROM WASHINGTON -- AND FOR THE\nBUCK THAT IMBUED THAT WORD WITH WISDOM.\nIS IT ANY WONDER THAT THE BRIGHT YOUNG\nPEOPLE WHO MIGHT HAVE HELPED SAVE THEIR\nCITIES HAVE SUFFERED THE FRUSTRATION AND\nALIENATION THAT GO WITH POWERLESSNESS?\nAT THE SAME TIME, OUR PEOPLE,\nWITNESSING THE IMPOTENCE OF THEIR LOCAL\nOFFICIALS AND COMPARING IT WITH THE POWER\nOF THE WASHINGTON BUREAUCRATS, LOST FAITH\nIN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND LOST INTEREST IN\nTHEIR TOWNS AND CITIES.\nUNDER THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE\nNEW FEDERALISM -- THE SPIRIT OF\nMADISON COUNTY, IF YOU WILL -- THIS WILL\nCHANGE.\nGLRALD FORD LIBRARY\n-8-\nINSTEAD OF ALIENATION OUR PEOPLE\nWILL EXPERIENCE THE POWER THAT A REAL\nSENSE OF PURPOSE GIVES.\nINSTEAD OF THE MUCH-DISCUSSED\nFEELING OF ROOTLESSNESS THEY WILL\nREDISCOVER THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND\nPRIDE OF PLACE THAT WERE ONCE A PRIMARY\nSOURCE OF AMERICA'S GREATNESS.\nINSTEAD OF THE\n\"I-JUST-DON'T-WANT-TO-GET-INVOLVED\"\nPHILOSOPHY, OUR PEOPLE WILL FIND THEIR\nINSTINCTS FOR DEMOCRATIC ACTION AND\nOBLIGATION WHETTED BY THE FEELING THAT\nTHEY CAN INDEED EXERCISE SOME REAL\nEFFECTIVE CONTROL OVER THE FORCES THAT\nSHAPE THEIR LIVES. Local decision making.\nWE HAVE ENACTED GENERAL REVENUE\nSHARING TO GIVE STATES AND\n-9-\nLOCAL COMMUNITIES MORE FINANCIAL MUSCLE.\nBUT SOMETHING ELSE NEEDS TO BE PROVIDED\nIF WE ARE TO REVITALIZE LOCAL GOVERNMENT\nTHE WAY IT SHOULD BE. WE SHOULD ALSO\nENACT SPECIAL REVENUE SHARING LEGISLATION\nWHICH WOULD HELP BRING DECISION-MAKING\nCLOSER TO HOME IN THE FIELDS OF EDUCATION\nLAW ENFORCEMENT MANPOWER TRAINING AND\nURBAN REDEVELOPMENT.\nWE MUST DO MORE THAN SIMPLY\nRETURN POWER AND REVENUE TO OUR CITIES\nAND STATES. WE MUST ALSO INSURE THAT,\nGIVEN THE POWER AND THE MONEY, THEY\nDEVELOP THE LEADERSHIP AND THE\nDECISION-MAKING MACHINERY TO USE THAT\nPOWER AND MONEY WISELY IN MANAGING CHANGE\nIN REACHING OUR GREAT GOALS.\nSERVID FORD LIBRARY\n-10-\nWE MUST AS I SAID EARLIER,\nDEVELOP A TRUE AND WORKING PARTNERSHIP\nBETWEEN GOVERNMENT AT ALL LEVELS IF WE\nARE TO SOLVE OUR MOST PRESSING SOCIAL\nPROBLEMS.\nYOUR MADISON COUNTY COUNCIL OF\nGOVERNMENTS -- WITH THE THREE MAYORS AND\nTHE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ALL CENTERED IN\nYOUR COURT HOUSE -- IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF\nGOVERNMENT WORKING TOGETHER.\nIF WE COULD GET EVEN A SEMBLANCE\nOF THAT KIND OF GOVERNMENTAL COOPERATION\nAT THE VARIOUS LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT IN\nTHIS COUNTRY -- FEDERAL, STATE AND\nLOCAL -- WE COULD MAKE TREMENDOUS PROGRESS\nIN THE SOLUTION OF OUR PROBLEMS.\nLIBRARY\n-11-\nI AM VERY PLEASED AS I LOOK ABOUT\nHERE TODAY AT HOW MADISON COUNTY FOLKS\nHAVE BEEN DOING IN MEETING THEIR NEEDS.\nYOUR DOWNTOWN IMPROVEMENTS ARE MOST\nIMPRESSIVE INCLUDING THIS NEW GOVERNMENT\nCENTER, THE NEW CITY BUILDING, THE NEW\n11-STORY OFFICE AND SAVINGS AND LOAN\nBUILDING, AND THE NEW BANK BUILDING.\nYOURS IS A COMMUNITY WHICH HAS CLEARLY\nBEEN UPGRADING AND MODERNIZING ITSELF.\nAS I SAID EARLIER, YOU HAVE COME\nA LONG WAY SINCE THOSE DAYS IN 1823\nWHEN THE FIRST SESSIONS OF COURTWERE HELD\nAT WILLIAM MSCARTNEY'S HOUSE IN PENDLETON.\nAS YOU ALL KNOW, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT\nBUILT A COURT HOUSE AND JAIL AT PENDLETON\nIN 1824 FOR THE CONDUCT OF INDIAN TRIALS.\nTHEN THAT BUILDING COLLAPSED AND THE\nGERALD FORD LIBRARY\n-12-\nCOURT MET IN 1825 AND '26 AT THE HOME OF\nMOSES PEARSON IN PENDLETON.\nAND THERE'S A MOST INTERESTING\nSTORY ABOUT HOW THE COUNTY SEAT WAS\nRELOCATED FROM PENDLETON TO ANDERSON.\nJOHN BERRY OFFERED TO DONATE 32 ACRES\nFOR THE PURPOSE BUT IT TURNED OUT THE\nPROPERTY WAS IN HAMILTON COUNTY INSTEAD\nOF MADISON. THE PROPERTY HAD TO BE ANNEXED\nTO MADISON SO THE DONATION COULD BE\nACCEPTED BY THE COMMISSIONERS.\nTO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, THE\nNEW COURT HOUSE WE ARE DEDICATING HERE\nTODAY IS THE THIRD COURT HOUSE TO BE BUILT\nON THIS SITE. THE FIRST COURT HOUSE BUILT\nON THIS SPOT WAS CONSTRUCTED IN 1837\nAND THE SECOND IN 1885.\n-13-\nTODAY WE DEDICATE THIS FINE NEW\nBUILDING TO ITS FIRST USE. WE DEDICATE\nIT IN THE NAME OF THE PEOPLE OF MADISON\nCOUNTY AND WE STATE, MOST EMPHATICALLY\nTHAT IT BELONGS TO THEM. WE DEDICATE IT\nIN THE SPIRIT OF \"DOING FOR OURSELVES,\"\nTHE SPIRIT OF THE NEW FEDERALISM, AND --\nI HOPE -- A NEW SPIRIT OF SOCIAL PROGRESS\nIN AMERICA. and, one final want - in 2 short years,\nthe united States will celebrate its Breentinmal\n200 you 1 the oldest government m the world Today\nwhere the people control their goot their destry.\nTheir maybe some disnlasment 1\nDimolong is The writ from of got\nCOMMISSIONERS PADDOCK, BAKER m the\nI but\nAND ALFORD\nWITH THE UNVEILING OF\nit's the best\nTHIS PLAQUE, THE MADISON COUNTY COURT that Knowl. wer been\nHOUSE IS HEREBY DEDICATED TO THE USE AND\nENJOYMENT OF THE CITIZENS OF MADISON\nCOUNTY.\nGERALD B+ FORD VIBRARY\nFranklin W hat have you power\nno a minarchy or a Republic\na Republic if you com Lup.\nMADISON COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER - FACT SHEET\nThe site for this building is a city block 215 feet square located in the center of\nthe downtown shopping center in a city of 70,000 people and a former site of two\nprevious County courthouses. The site is bounded on each side by wide city streets.\nThree of which have one way traffic. The site has a ten foot difference in grade\nelevations from the South-east corner to the North-west corner.\nThe program was to design a County Government Center to replace an earlier 20,000\nsquare feet building built on the site 85 years ago. Provide 95,000 square feet of\nspace for courtrooms and all other County offices and departments.\nThe contours of the site solve parking problems inexpensively. Buy utilizing the\nNorthwest corner from Meridian Street one can enter the underground parking level\nat present street level and utilizing the entire site with one parking level under\nthe building. The city block must also remain as a civic, political and social center\nof the City and County. For this reason, the street level space was designed primarily\nas a large exterior public plaza, much of it covered. The plaza contains a podium for\npolitical speeches, rallies and reviewing stands for public parades. The plaza contains\ngarden walls. a fountain, trees and an area to display relics from the former courthouse\nbuildings.\nThe basement contains the mechanical equipment room, the Sheriff and Coroners offices,\ndead storage room and 85 parking spaces.\nThe first floor is the smallest floor which will house the Treasurer, Council of\nGovernments, Central records, Data Processing and the Auditors offices.\nThe second floor is larger and located there are the Clerk, Canteen, Recorder, Township\nAssessor, County Assessor, Planning Commission, Surveyor and Voters Registration offices.\nThe third floor is still larger and contains the Prosecuting Attorney, County Council,\nCounty Commissioners, Agriculture Agent, Board of Health and Welfare offices.\nThe fourth floor houses all courts and court related facilities. We have four large\ncourtroom suits, each containins Judges chamber, conference room, jury room, detention\nand reporters room and general office space. This floor also has two hearing rooms,\nfour court commissioners offices, baliff offices, court clerks filing area, probation\nofficers and a law library.\nThe officials of Madison County attempted to replace the old brick traditional structure.\nFor 25 years, however, the citizens were not willing to exchange the building for a new\nglass and steel modern structure. We chose the generous use of brick and minimum of\nglass and metal in hopes the citizens could better relate to its courthouse history.\nThe building was started in May 1972.\nGERALD LIBRARY\nSESSIONS OF MADISON COUNTY COURT\n2 BEDROOM HOME.\nz Main Some removed bed\nto hold count\n1. First sessions of Court were held at Milliam McCartney's house in Pendleton.\n23.\nSessions met thene from first session of September 1823 until:\n2. The Federal Government built a new court house and jail at Pendleton in April\n8, 1824.\nfor tudians trials\n3.\nabove\n3. Upon collaspe of the old building the Court met at the home of Moses Pearson\n-\nin 1825-1826 in Pendleton.\n4. John Berry proposed a donation of 32 acres for relocation of the County seat from\nPendleton to ANderson. County was unable to accept ground in that it was in\nHamilton County instead of Madison County. Ground was annexed to Madison County and\ndonation was accepted by Commissionerss.\n5. Commissioners met at John Berry house ( Chief Anderson's home which stood on\nsite of present jail.). Berry's donation of land extended from 8th to 11th from\nMeridian St to the River. Samuel C. Woodworth and Norman Way, resurveyed the\nground, since the first survey was imperfect.\n6. First actual Court session in Anderson was held in home of Wm. Curtis @ 82 North\nMain Street. ((Curtis was a fromer resident of Pendleton who moved from Pendleton,\nwhen County seat was relocated.)).\n7. First Court House built on East 8th eats of Main Str eet between Main and Central\nabout where the Lovett Building was (old Gas Company building) November 15, 1831.\n8. Second Courthouse built in centre of present public square April 5, 1837 finished\nNovember 1, 1837.\n135 SALD FORD VIBRARY\n9. Second Court house burned in 1880.\nHowel Water\nCo Hon thereff - Nort is\n10 Then court met at Westerfield Block on North Main Street.\n11. Rebted Hannah & Boring Building which stood on the North side of the square.\n12. Present court house started in 1882 Enished 1885.\n32,000 sheetter\n13 Present stated count our house 1971 started in 1971\n1822 its base\nThanked lat in brostoner\nmood in spout.\n1930'h livel on lawn\nD\ntave until 1923\nTrie bell.\n25 copies to Indianal S/C.\nO\nOFFICE COPY\nREMARKS BY REP. GERALD R. FORD, R-MICH.\nREPUBLICAN LEADER, U. S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES\nAT THE DEDICATION OF THE\nMADISON COUNTY, INDIANA, COURT HOUSE\nAT ANDERSON, INDIANA\n1 P.M. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1973\nFOR RELEASE ON DELIVERY\nLadies and gentlemen, it is a real honor and privilege for me\nto be here with you today. What a great occasion -- the dedication\nof this splendid new Court House building in Madison County, the\nheart of America's heartland! It is a great occasion because it\nis a meaningful occasion. It has tremendous significance for all\nof you here and, indeed, it has significance for all of America.\nWhat does it mean to you -- this official dedication of\nthe fine new brick building you call your court house? I think I\nknow the answer. This building is a lot more than just brick and\nmortar. It stands for something. It stands at the center of\nyour lives. Your lives revolve around this building and the city\nbuilding across the street because this city block constitutes a\ncivic, political and social center for all of Madison County.\nYou kept your new court house traditional -- a lot of brick\nand not too much glass and metal -- because tradition is important\nto you. Tradition sits at the core of your lives. You have found\nthe best way to do things, and that's the way you want to keep it.\nYou can be proud of this new building -- and proud of\nyourselves, too. I think it's wonderful that this new court house\nis entirely locally funded. No federal money. No state money.\nYou're paying for it right out of your own pockets. The same with\nthe city building. Madison County folks are a great example of\nthe proudest tradition we have in this country -- people doing\nthings for themselves.\nAt the same time, I'd like to say you've come a long way\nsince that day in September of 1823 when the first county\ncommissioners met in a private residence in Pendleton and had to\nremove a bed from the room so they'd have enough space for their\nmeeting. I join with you in observing Madison County's 150th\nanniversary, and I'm sure you're all looking forward to your\nsesquicentennial parade.\n(more)\nPage 2\nI mentioned earlier how pleased I am that your new court\nhouse is entirely locally financed. That contrasts so very\nsharply with the movement that all of you know has been going on\nin this country in the past -- the uninterrupted flow of power\nand decision-making from the states and local communities to the\nbureaucrats in Washington. There has been a mushrooming growth in\nfunds and authority which have resulted in an overcentralized and\nbureaucratized Federal government.\nWorst of all, much of the power -- and with it the initiative\nand the creativity -- of our local governments has been allowed to\natrophy. And although the Federal establishment was growing by\nleaps and bounds, it was largely failing in its attempts to solve\nsome of the nation's most pressing social and economic problems --\nhousing, welfare, transportation, the pollution of the environment,\nand the decay of our cities.\nIn short, the growing complexities of the world's first\nadvanced industrial society have made the solutions of problems\nby a central government, far removed from the lives of the people,\nmore and more difficult.\nWhat to do about it?\nI am convinced that the answer lies in reversing the flow\nof power and resources from Washington back to the states and\nlocal communities.\nI refer to the concept of \"The New Federalism\" -- the\ncreating of a partnership between Federal, State and local\ngovernments. I say we should prepare to cope with the onrushing\nfuture through local planning, local solutions, and local actions.\nWhy should we believe that Washington has a corner on all\nthe intelligence and wisdom required to solve the housing and\ntransportation problems of our cities? Imagine what a rich harvest\nof solutions we might reap if dedicated young men and women in\n100 cities were seeking answers to these problems for their own\nhome towns! And tailoring those solutions to the individual needs\nof their home towns, instead of accepting ill-fitting plans from\nWashington.\nFor too long, local officials have been required to wait\npassively for word from Washington -- and for the buck that imbued\n(more)\nPage 3\nthat word with wisdom. Is it any wonder that the bright young\npeople who might have helped save their cities have suffered the\nfrustration and alienation that go with powerlessness?\nAt the same time, our people, witnessing the impotence of\ntheir local officials and comparing it with the power of the\nWashington bureaucrats, lost faith in local government and lost\ninterest in their towns and cities.\nUnder the philosophy of the New Federalism --- the spirit of\nMadison County, if you will -- this will change.\nInstead of alienation, our people will experience the power\nthat a real sense of purpose gives.\nInstead of the much-discussed feeling of rootlessness, they\nwill rediscover the sense of community and pride of place that\nwere once a primary source of America's greatness.\nInstead of the \"I-just-don't-want-to-get-involved\" philosophy,\nour people will find their instincts for democratic action and\nobligation whetted by the feeling that they can indeed exercise\nsome real, effective control over the forces that shape their lives.\nWe have enacted general revenue sharing to give states and\nlocal communities more financial muscle. But something else needs\nto be provided if we are to revitalize local government the way\nit should be. We should also enact special revenue sharing\nlegislation which would help bring decision-making closer to home\nin the fields of education, law enforcement, manpower training\nand urban redevelopment.\nWe must do more than simply return power and revenue to\nour cities and states. We must also insure that, given the power\nand the money, they develop the leadership and the decision-making\nmachinery to use that power and money wisely in managing change,\nin reaching our great goals.\nWe must, as I said earlier, develop a true and working\npartnership between government at all levels if we are to solve\nour most pressing social problems.\nYour Madison County Council of Governments -- with the\nthree mayors and the county commissioners all centered in your\n(more)\nPage 4\ncourt house -- is a good example of government working together.\nIf we could get even a semblance of that kind of governmental\ncooperation at the various levels of government in this country --\nFederal, state and local -- we could make tremendous progress in\nthe solution of our problems.\nI am very pleased as I look about here today at how Madison\nCounty folks have been doing in meeting their needs. Your downtown\nmall is most impressive, with its new ll-story office and bank\nbuilding and the new court house as the center. Yours is a\ncommunity which has clearly been upgrading and modernizing itself.\nAs I said earlier, you have come a long way since those\ndays in 1823 when the first sessions of court were held at William\nMcCartney's house in Pendleton. As you all know, the Federal\nGovernment built a court house and jail at Pendleton in 1824 for\nthe conduct of Indian trials. Then that building collapsed and\nthe court met in 1825 and '26 at the home of Moses Pearson in\nPendleton.\nAnd there's a most interesting story about how the county\nseat was relocated from Pendleton to Anderson. John Berry offered\nto donate 32 acres for the purpose but it turned out the property\nwas in Hamilton County instead of Madison. The property had to be\nannexed to Madison so the donation could be accepted by the\ncommissioners.\nTo make a long story short, the new court house we are\ndedicating here today is the third court house to be built on this\nsite. The first court house built on this spot was constructed in\n1837, and the second in 1885.\nToday we dedicate this fine new building to its first use.\nWe dedicate it in the name of the people of Madison County, and we\nstate, most emphatically, that it belongs to them. We dedicate it\nin the spirit of \"doing for ourselves,\" the spirit of the New\nFederalism, and -- I hope -- a new spirit of social progress in\nAmerica.\n###\nDistribution 25 copies to Frank Fries\nSE Indiana\nM OFFICE COPY\nREMARKS BY REP. GERALD R. FORD, R-MICH.\nREPUBLICAN LEADER, U. S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES\nAT THE DEDICATION OF THE\nMADISON COUNTY, INDIANA, COURT HOUSE\nAT ANDERSON, INDIANA\n1 P.M. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1973\nFOR RELEASE ON DELIVERY\nLadies and gentlemen, it is a real honor and privilege for me\nto be here with you today. What a great occasion -- the dedication\nof this splendid new Court House building in Madison County, the\nheart of America's heartland! It is a great occasion because it\nis a meaningful occasion. It has tremendous significance for all\nof you here and, indeed, it has significance for all of America.\nWhat does it mean to you -- this official dedication of\nthe fine new brick building you call your court house? I think I\nknow the answer. This building is a lot more than just brick and\nmortar. It stands for something. It stands at the center of\nyour lives. Your lives revolve around this building and the city\nbuilding across the street because this city block constitutes a\ncivic, political and social center for all of Madison County.\nYou kept your new court house traditional -- a lot of brick\nand not too much glass and metal -- because tradition is important\nto you. Tradition sits at the core of your lives. You have found\nthe best way to do things, and that's the way you want to keep it.\nYou can be proud of this new building -- and proud of\nyourselves, too. I think it's wonderful that this new court house\nis entirely locally funded. No federal money. No state money.\nYou're paying for it right out of your own pockets. The same with\nthe city building. Madison County folks are a great example of\nthe proudest tradition we have in this country -- people doing\nthings for themselves.\nAt the same time, I'd like to say you've come a long way\nsince that day in September of 1823 when the first county\ncommissioners met in a private residence in Pendleton and had to\nremove a bed from the room so they'd have enough space for their\nmeeting. I join with you in observing Madison County's 150th\nanniversary, and I'm sure you're all looking forward to your\nsesquicentennial parade.\n(more)\nPage 2\nI mentioned earlier how pleased I am that your new court\nhouse is entirely locally financed. That contrasts so very\nsharply with the movement that all of you know has been going on\nin this country in the past -- the uninterrupted flow of power\nand decision-making from the states and local communities to the\nbureaucrats in Washington. There has been a mushrooming growth in\nfunds and authority which have resulted in an overcentralized and\nbureaucratized Federal government.\nWorst of all, much of the power -- and with it the initiative\nand the creativity -- of our local governments has been allowed to\natrophy. And although the Federal establishment was growing by\nleaps and bounds, it was largely failing in its attempts to solve\nsome of the nation's most pressing social and economic problems --\nhousing, welfare, transportation, the pollution of the environment,\nand the decay of our cities.\nIn short, the growing complexities of the world's first\nadvanced industrial society have made the solutions of problems\nby a central government, far removed from the lives of the people,\nmore and more difficult.\nWhat to do about it?\nI am convinced that the answer lies in reversing the flow\nof power and resources from Washington back to the states and\nlocal communities.\nI refer to the concept of \"The New Federalism\" --- the\ncreating of a partnership between Federal, State and local\ngovernments. I say we should prepare to cope with the onrushing\nfuture through local planning, local solutions, and local actions.\nWhy should we believe that Washington has a corner on all\nthe intelligence and wisdom required to solve the housing and\ntransportation problems of our cities? Imagine what a rich harvest\nof solutions we might reap if dedicated young men and women in\n100 cities were seeking answers to these problems for their own\nhome towns! And tailoring those solutions to the individual needs\nof their home towns, instead of accepting ill-fitting plans from\nWashington.\nFor too long, local officials have been required to wait\npassively for word from Washington -- and for the buck that imbued\n(more)\nPage 3\nthat word with wisdom. Is it any wonder that the bright young\npeople who might have helped save their cities have suffered the\nfrustration and alienation that go with powerlessness?\nAt the same time, our people, witnessing the impotence of\ntheir local officials and comparing it with the power of the\nWashington bureaucrats, lost faith in local government and lost\ninterest in their towns and cities.\nUnder the philosophy of the New Federalism -- the spirit of\nMadison County, if you will -- this will change.\nInstead of alienation, our people will experience the power\nthat a real sense of purpose gives.\nInstead of the much-discussed feeling of rootlessness, they\nwill rediscover the sense of community and pride of place that\nwere once a primary source of America's greatness.\nInstead of the \"I-just-don't-want-to-get-involved\" philosophy,\nour people will find their instincts for democratic action and\nobligation whetted by the feeling that they can indeed exercise\nsome real, effective control over the forces that shape their lives.\nWe have enacted general revenue sharing to give states and\nlocal communities more financial muscle. But something else needs\nto be provided if we are to revitalize local government the way\nit should be. We should also enact special revenue sharing\nlegislation which would help bring decision-making closer to home\nin the fields of education, law enforcement, manpower training\nand urban redevelopment.\nWe must do more than simply return power and revenue to\nour cities and states. We must also insure that, given the power\nand the money, they develop the leadership and the decision-making\nmachinery to use that power and money wisely in managing change,\nin reaching our great goals.\nWe must, as I said earlier, develop a true and working\npartnership between government at all levels if we are to solve\nour most pressing social problems.\nYour Madison County Council of Governments -- with the\nthree mayors and the county commissioners all centered in your\n(more)\nPage 4\ncourt house -- is a good example of government working together.\nIf we could get even a semblance of that kind of governmental\ncooperation at the various levels of government in this country --\nFederal, state and local -- we could make tremendous progress in\nthe solution of our problems.\nI am very pleased as I look about here today at how Madison\nCounty folks have been doing in meeting their needs. Your downtown\nmall is most impressive, with its new ll-story office and bank\nbuilding and the new court house as the center. Yours is a\ncommunity which has clearly been upgrading and modernizing itself.\nAs I said earlier, you have come a long way since those\ndays in 1823 when the first sessions of court were held at William\nMcCartney's house in Pendleton. As you all know, the Federal\nGovernment built a court house and jail at Pendleton in 1824 for\nthe conduct of Indian trials. Then that building collapsed and\nthe court met in 1825 and '26 at the home of Moses Pearson in\nPendleton.\nAnd there's a most interesting story about how the county\nseat was relocated from Pendleton to Anderson. John Berry offered\nto donate 32 acres for the purpose but it turned out the property\nwas in Hamilton County instead of Madison. The property had to be\nannexed to Madison so the donation could be accepted by the\ncommissioners.\nTo make a long story short, the new court house we are\ndedicating here today is the third court house to be built on this\nsite. The first court house built on this spot was constructed in\n1837, and the second in 1885.\nToday we dedicate this fine new building to its first use.\nWe dedicate it in the name of the people of Madison County, and we\nstate, most emphatically, that it belongs to them. We dedicate it\nin the spirit of \"doing for ourselves,\" the spirit of the New\nFederalism, and -- I hope -- a new spirit of social progress in\nAmerica.\n###"
}