Belmont County Courthouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Belmont County Courthouse
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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The Belmont County Courthouse in St. Clairsville, Ohio
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | E. and W. Main St. between Butler and Sugar Sts., St. Clairsville, Ohio |
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| Built | 1885 |
| Architect | Yost, Joseph Warren |
| Architectural style | Second Empire |
| Part of | St. Clairsville Historic District (ID94000246) |
| Added to NRHP | March 17, 1994 |
The Belmont County Courthouse is a very important building in St. Clairsville, Ohio. It is located at 101 West Main Street. This courthouse sits on the highest spot in the area. You can see it from Interstate 70 and many places in the Ohio Valley. It is part of the St. Clairsville Historic District. This district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1969. This means it is a special place recognized for its history.
Contents
History of the Belmont County Courthouse
Early Courthouses in Belmont County
Belmont County was started in 1801. Its first main town, or county seat, was Pultney. Today, Pultney is called Shadyside. The first courthouse there was a simple two-story brick building. It was only used for a few years.
The county seat then moved to St. Clairsville. This town was growing along the important National Road. The courthouse was planned right along this road.
The First St. Clairsville Courthouses
The first courthouse in St. Clairsville was built in 1805. It was made of logs and had two stories. It cost the county just over $1,000 to build. When this log building was no longer used, a new one was built in its place.
This new courthouse was made of brick in 1815. It was built in the popular Federal style. This building also had two stories. It had long, rectangular windows. A small tower, called a cupola, rose from its roof. This courthouse served the county until 1885.
The Current Courthouse Building
The courthouse you see today was built between 1885 and 1888. It was designed by a famous architect named Joseph W. Yost. He designed many courthouses in Ohio. He also designed the Miami County Courthouse in Troy, Ohio.
This building has three floors. It is built in the Second Empire style. This style often includes fancy details and a special type of roof. The courthouse holds many important county offices. It has three courtrooms and a meeting room for county leaders.
What Does the Courthouse Look Like?
The Building's Outside Look
The courthouse is a three-story building. It is made of large, rough-cut sandstone blocks. It has tall, arched windows. The building is shaped like a rectangle. The main entrance sticks out from the center.
Steps once led to the main entrance. Now, you enter through a tunnel under the stairs for safety. Above the stairs is a fake balcony. It is held up by Corinthian columns. These are fancy columns with carved tops. Next to a pair of arched windows are more columns, called pilasters. These support a triangular top part, called a pediment. Below the pediment is a flat band, or frieze, with the year "1886" carved on it.
A statue of Justice stands above the entrance. She watches over the building. The sides of the building are the same on both halves. Each floor has three arched windows. The corners of the building stick out a bit. They have single arched windows and more columns. The corners are topped with small towers and decorative urns.
The Clock Tower and Bell
A tall tower rises from the middle of the roof. This tower holds a clock and a dome. It has high arched windows and more Corinthian columns. A large steel bell used to hang in this tower. It weighed 3,800 pounds!
The bell was taken down during repairs. Now, it sits in front of the courthouse. This bell rang for a whole hour in 1945. It was celebrating the end of World War II.
The Courthouse Grounds
To the right of the building, there is a memorial. It honors veterans who served in wars. The old courthouse bell sits in the northern courtyard. Another bell, the bicentennial bell, is in the southern courtyard.
A brick building nearby used to house local government. Now, it holds one of the sheriff's offices. The southern part of the lot has many stairs. The main flat area is used for a local farmers' market in the summer. In the winter, it holds the public Christmas tree.
Inside the Courthouse
First and Second Floors
The hallways on the first floor have beautiful tile floors. The tiles form interesting geometric shapes. The courtrooms and offices have been updated. They now have modern things like an elevator and air conditioning. New windows help keep the building warm or cool. A metal detector helps keep everyone safe inside.
The second floor used to be the main entrance. You can still see signs of this past. There is an information desk in the open area, or atrium. The office where property deeds are kept is down the hall.
Third Floor and Attic
The third floor has the dome, which is now covered. Lights around it make it glow. This floor also has the courtrooms. When the courthouse first opened, it had three courtrooms. One of them has since become the county law library. This is a place with many law books.
Above the third floor is an attic. It is not easy to get to. It holds the old bell tower and the top part of the dome. The attic is now used to store many court records.
Other Courthouse Buildings
Belmont County has other buildings that help with court services. These are called courthouse annexes.
- St. Clairsville: This building is at 147 West Main Street. It is west of the main courthouse. It holds the offices for the prosecuting attorney. It also has the Western Division County Court.
- Bellaire: This building is at 400 West 26th Street, Suite 100. It holds the Eastern and Northern Division County Court.
Images for kids
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The Belmont County Courthouse in St. Clairsville, Ohio
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The courthouse in 1891
