“PAPA BEAR”
- Program
- Subject
- Location
- Lat/Long
- Grant Recipient
-
NYS Historic
-
Building, Site
- 7175 Main St, Ovid, NY 14521, USA
- 42.676820962701, -76.822635193497
-
The Three Bears
“PAPA BEAR”
Inscription
“PAPA BEAR”BUILT 1845 TO REPLACE EARLIER
COURTHOUSE. SERVED TWO-JURY
DISTRICT SHARED BY COUNTY
SEATS OVID & WATERLOO. ALSO
HELD POLITICAL & LOCAL EVENTS.
WILLIAM G. POMEROY FOUNDATION 2024
Take one look at it, and the name of the Seneca County Courthouse complex at Ovid immediately makes sense. What better way to describe the three buildings sitting amidst the village than “The Three Bears”? One small, one medium, one large; all similar, yet distinct. The name fits perfectly.
And as of 2024, all three have received historical markers commemorating their significance to the Ovid Community.
“Papa Bear” joins that trio of markers funded by the William G. Pomeroy Foundation celebrating these unique buildings, which includes “Baby Bear,” or the first clerk’s office and meeting place of the Grand Army of the Republic, and “Mama Bear,” the replacement clerk’s office when “Baby Bear” became too small.
“Papa Bear,” as the title indicates, is the largest of the three. Built in 1845—the same year as “Baby Bear”—the building served as a courthouse for the two-jury district, which had seats in both Ovid and Waterloo due to the corridor-like geography of Seneca County. In order to provide access to the seats for residents who lived in both the northern and southern section of the county, it was divided into a two-shire with two county seats. Ovid was selected for the southern portion of the county.
Built in a neoclassical revival style, which borrowed heavily from ancient Greek architecture, “Papa Bear” replaced an earlier courthouse that had fallen into disrepair. Since its construction in 1845, the building has played several roles for the community. Along with being used as a courthouse, “Papa Bear” also served as a jailhouse (having cells in the basement), the sheriff’s residence and a community gathering space, which hosted both political and community events alike.
A detailed history of “Papa Bear” and the rest of the historic complex, along with information about upcoming events and tours can be found by visiting: