Lewis County Courthouse (Missouri) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Lewis County Courthouse
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The courthouse in 2014
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 Location in Missouri
Location in the United States
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| Location | 100 E. Lafayette St., Monticello, Missouri |
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| Built | 1875 |
| Architect | McAllister, J.T.; McAllister & Co. |
| Architectural style | Second Empire |
| NRHP reference No. | 04001476 |
| Added to NRHP | January 12, 2005 |
The Lewis County Courthouse is an important building in Monticello, Missouri. It's where the local government for Lewis County works. This beautiful building was designed by J.T. McAllister and built in 1875. It has a special look called the Second Empire style. In 2005, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's a very important historical place in the United States.
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About the Courthouse Building
This courthouse is a two-story building made of brick. It sits on a strong stone base. When it was first built, it was about 80 feet long and 48 feet wide. The roof was about 32 feet high. The first floor had 12-foot ceilings, and the second floor had even taller 18-foot ceilings. Each floor had three main rooms.
Over the years, the building has been changed a few times. Four additions have been built, and the inside has been updated. The building has a special type of roof called a mansard roof. It also has a unique small tower on top called a cupola.
The History of Lewis County's Courthouse
The building you see today is actually the third courthouse for Lewis County. Courthouses are important because they are where the county's government business happens, like making local laws and keeping records.
The First Two Courthouses
The very first courthouse was a simple one-story building made of logs. It was built in 1834 and cost only $210. But by 1839, the county needed a much bigger and stronger building. So, a new two-story brick courthouse was built for $3,200. Both of these early buildings were located very close to where the current courthouse stands in Monticello.
Building the Current Courthouse
In 1874, officials decided to spend $10,000 to build the courthouse we see today. However, some people wanted to move the county seat (the main town where the county government is located) from Monticello to another town. Towns like Canton, La Grange, and Lewistown all tried to convince the county to move. They said Monticello was hard to get to.
Lewistown even offered $25,000 to help build a new courthouse if it moved there. La Grange said they would offer even more. Canton offered the most, promising to spend at least $40,000 on a new courthouse that would be "an ornament to Lewis County for this and the next generation."
But in the end, the county officials decided to keep the county seat in Monticello. They gave the building contract to McAllister & Company in March 1875. Work started quickly in April, and the building was finished and ready to use by December 1875. For a short time that winter, the new courthouse was even used as a school for the children of Monticello!
Changes Over Time
The courthouse was first made bigger in 1922. Two new brick sections, each two stories tall, were added to the east and west sides. Another two-story addition was built on the west side in 2004. This new part added restrooms that are easy for everyone to use, and an elevator. These changes helped the courthouse follow the Americans with Disabilities Act, which makes sure public buildings are accessible for people with disabilities.
The inside of the courthouse has also changed a lot over the years. Things like drop ceilings, modern heating and cooling systems, and new wiring for phones and computers have been added to keep the building up-to-date.
