Brentwood S. Tolan (1855-1923) Was an American architect and native of Fort Wayne, Indiana. With little formal art training, he apprenticed under his father, Indiana arictect Thomas J. Tolan, starting in 1872 at age 17.

The younger Tolan continued in architectural practice in Fort Wayne after his fathers death. He became well-known during the Progressive Era the Great Lakes area of the Midwest for designing municipal and local government buildings. including courthouses and jails.

His most notable work is the National Historic Landmark-designated Allen County Courthouse in downtown Fort Wayne. Other prominent buildings include the Whitley County Courthouse in Columbia City, Indiana, the La Porte County Courthouse in La Porte, Indiana as well as the now-demolished Old National Bank Building and Masonic Temple and Opera House in Fort Wayne.

External links

• Whitley County Courthouse photo (http://www.kneller.com/WhitleyIN/photos01.html)
• Allen County Courthouse facts (http://www.historiclandmarks.org/noted/restored/restored1003.html)
• La Porte County Historical Society site with courthouse pictures (http://www.lapcohistsoc.org/history.htm)