Stark County has had a courthouse on the same site in the heart of downtown for over 200 years. The building breathes history as the place where a very young William McKinley began his path to the White House. It is, tragically, also the site where a nation mourned his assassination. The rich history of this beautiful downtown building also includes a notorious public hanging that led to changes in Ohio’s capital punishment procedures.

Notable features of the building’s design include an imposing clock and bell tower, crowned by the four “trumpeters of justice.” 

The production includes interviews with local government officials, judges, preservationists and historians. It celebrates the building’s architectural uniqueness and rich history.

Premiered on PBS Western Reserve in 2021.