1st Shelby County Court House of Shelby County Kentucky

The Original Shelby County Court ,

1837-1891.

Sources: For the Photo http://www.shelbykyhistory.org/membership.asp
The Original Shelby County Court House. Which was destroyed in a fire June 29, 1891. County: Shelby Organized: Jan. 2, 1835 Named after: Gov. Isaac Shelby of KentuckyCounty seat: Shelbyville

Sources: http://extension.missouri.edu/explore/uedivis/ue6101.htm

The court adopted a plan proposed by Thomas J. Bounds in December 1835 for laying out the site for the Shelby County seat. At the same session the court appointed Bounds commissioner for the seat of justice. After rejecting the first plan for a courthouse, presented in January 1837, the court accepted a second plan, offered at the next session of court in February 1837. This plan called for a forty-foot-square, brick, two-story building. It also called for a roof described as having pediment fronts, apparently crossed gables, containing circular windows in each, and a wooden cornice. The brick was to be painted Spanish brown with mortar joints delineated. Orders for the painting and pediment fronts were later rescinded. Three exterior panel doors opened into the lower story, suggesting a transverse hall plan. Each door was five feet wide with fan windows above. The plan described in the County Court Record also called for a "girdle" across the courthouse supported by two columns. Apparently, this was a small entry, since the floor was to be level with the floor of the lobby.

The lobby floor was brick; the courtroom floor of oak, elevated one foot above the lobby floor; on the west side the 10-by-4-foot judge's seat rose three additional feet. Two flights of stairs with handrails, one on the northeast, the other on the southeast, led to the second floor, which contained a grand jury room and two additional rooms.

In February the court appropriated $4,000 for construction. In September Charles and Samuel J. Smith and James C. Hawkins contracted for the brick work for $1,870. Wait Barton contracted for wood work for $2,175. Obadiah Dickerson was appointed superintendent. Contractors completed construction in 1839.

Wings appearing in the 1878 Atlas illustration were probably later additions (Figure 1). Fire, which began in the cupola, destroyed this courthouse June 29, 1891. According to news reports, it was no great loss since the structure was in poor condition and unsuitable for county functions. "Peace to its ashes," the article concluded.

Source: http://extension.missouri.edu/explore/uedivis/ue6101.htm

The History of Shelby County

Visit Shelby County Kentucky genealogy site for additional Information:

http://kykinfolk.com/shelby/