Barbour County Courthouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Barbour County Courthouse
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Barbour County Courthouse
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| Nearest city | Philippi, West Virginia |
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| Built | 1903-05 |
| Architect | J. Charles Fulton and J.P. Conn |
| Architectural style | Richardsonian Romanesque; Romanesque Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 80004014 |
| Added to NRHP | 1980 |
The Barbour County Courthouse is an important public building. It is located in Philippi, Barbour County, West Virginia. This large building was constructed between 1903 and 1905. It was built in a style called Richardsonian Romanesque. The courthouse stands out in the town center. It is a main symbol of the county's government. In 1980, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This list includes places important to history.
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History of the Courthouse
The First Courthouse Building
The very first Barbour County Courthouse was built between 1844 and 1846. It was made of wood. It had a style called Greek Revival, which looked like ancient Greek temples.
In 1861, a Confederate flag was flown from its tall, round tower. This was the first Confederate flag seen in what would become West Virginia. Later, during the American Civil War, soldiers from the Union army used the building.
The Current Courthouse Building
J. Charles Fulton, an architect from Pennsylvania, was hired in 1901. He designed the courthouse you see today. It was built in the Richardsonian Romanesque style. The construction was done by J.P. Conn between 1903 and 1905.
The 1905 courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. This means it is a special historic site. A big project to fix up the building started in 1995. Workers repaired and replaced the beautiful stained glass dome inside. This project won an award in 1999. It was named the "Best Interior Rehabilitation Project."
What the Courthouse Looks Like
The Barbour County Courthouse is in Court Square. It faces Main Street in Philippi. The building is shaped like a rectangle. It is about 95 feet wide at the front. The sides are about 60 feet long. It is made of strong stone.
Outside the Building
The outside of the courthouse is made of Hummelstown brownstone. This is a special, strong sandstone. It comes from a quarry in Pennsylvania. This stone is dark brown. It can have reddish or purplish colors. Most of the stone blocks on the outside are rough. This gives the building a strong, solid look. But some parts are smooth. These include the stone around the arched doors and windows. The smooth stone also forms decorative lines. The building looks very grand and important.
The courthouse has 2 ½ stories. It sits on a raised base. A huge tower stands to the left of the main entrance. This tower is very tall and noticeable. There are also smaller features. These include steep roof sections with windows. There is also a round tower on the corner to the right of the main door.
The main entrance is very large. It has a huge arch. A big, smooth stone column stands next to it. The space above the arch is decorated. It has delicate leaf patterns carved into the stone.
The large, square tower is on the left side. It has four levels. Each level is marked by smooth stone lines. The top of the tower has an open bell area. It has double arched openings on each side. A pointed roof sits on top of the tower. Just below the roof, there are four stone blocks. They stick out like gargoyles. They might have been left unfinished by the sculptor.
Above the main entrance, there is a large window. It has three parts and an arch. Similar arched windows are found in other parts of the building. These windows, and other flat-topped windows, have stained-glass sections. They also have smooth bars that divide the glass.
Why the Courthouse is Special
An expert on the Hummelstown Brownstone Company, which supplied the stone, said something interesting. He said that many buildings use this brownstone. But none can match the beauty of buildings made mostly of it. He believes the Barbour County Courthouse is the most impressive public building made entirely of Hummelstown brownstone.
He noted that it was built in 1903. He said it shows what people expected from their public buildings back then. It has a tile roof. The rough and smooth stone blocks create a nice contrast. The smooth stone also highlights the arches and their fancy decorations.
