Shelby County Kentucky Court House
Second Court House of Shelby Co KY
The History of the Second Court House in Shelby County Kentucky
Shelby County Courthouse, 1837-1891. (From: An Illustrated Historical Atlas of Shelby County, 1878)
On Sept. 5, 1891, citizens of Shelby County voted a $25,000 bond issue for construction of a new courthouse. The court paid architect Jerome B. Legg $500 to furnish plans and specifications for a two-story building, 80 by 90 feet. It was 85 feet to the top of the dome. The Circuit Court room, 45 by 55 feet, was on the second floor; the County Court room, 20 by 28 feet, on the first floor. There were entrances on the south, east and west.
Positioning of the entrances incensed one resident who anticipated the principal growth developing north of the courthouse and bitterly resented a design that turned its back to the principal thoroughfare. But his protest was in vain; no north door was included. Other dissatisfaction came from those who wanted more ornament on the building.
Judge George J. Parker acted as superintendent for the project. On Feb. 4, 1892, the court awarded the building contract to Charles E. Force and Co., Kansas City, Missouri, for $24,380. The building was to be completed Nov. 1, 1892, but progress was slow. The court could not occupy the completed building until July 1893 (Figure 2). Due to damages sustained because of delays in construction, the county deducted $580 from the final costs. Louis Miller designed a similar courthouse to this in 1892 in Dunklin County. Builders made improvements in 1909 with the installation of plumbing and steam heating. In 1915 basement rooms were completed, and in 1934, a renovation included installing hardwood floors on the first floor. This building continues to house Shelby County officials.
Shelby County Courthouse, 1891-. Architect: Jerome B. Legg.
Sources: http://extension.missouri.edu/explore/uedivis/ue6101.htm
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