Old Meigs County Courthouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Old Meigs County Courthouse And Chester Academy
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Overview from the south
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | State Route 248, Chester, Ohio |
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| Area | 4 acres (1.6 ha) |
| Built | 1823 |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 75001488 |
| Added to NRHP | June 30, 1975 |
The Old Meigs County Courthouse is a really old government building in a small town called Chester, in Ohio, United States. It was built a long time ago, in the early 1800s. At first, it was used for many things in the town. But it was only a courthouse for less than 20 years. Then, people decided to use a different courthouse in another town.
In the 1950s, it was fixed up. Later, in the 1970s, it became a historic site along with a school next door. Today, both buildings are a museum! It's the oldest building in Ohio that was built to be a courthouse and is still standing.
Contents
Chester's Early Days
In 1819, the state government of Ohio created Meigs County. It was made from a part of Gallia County. At first, the courts met in a building in Salisbury Township. But a fire destroyed that building in 1821.
The county leaders then met at a resident's house in Chester Township. This homeowner decided to plan a new town, which he named "Chester." In 1822, Chester became the main town for the county, called the county seat. A courthouse and a jail were built there.
Why Chester Grew and Changed
Chester grew quickly in the 1820s. Many professionals and farmers moved there. The Shade River was busy with boats carrying goods to places like New Orleans.
However, things changed in the 1830s. Steamboats started stopping at Pomeroy to pick up coal from nearby mines. Also, a serious illness called cholera affected many of Chester's residents in 1834.
Because of these changes, the county government moved to a new courthouse in Pomeroy in 1841. The old courthouse in Chester was no longer used for court, and the town became much quieter.
Building the Courthouse
In September 1822, the county leaders decided to build a log jail and a house for the jailer. They also started planning a permanent courthouse. A few weeks later, they voted to build a two-story brick building. It would be 36 feet long, 38 feet wide, and 16 feet tall, with seven windows.
Later, they decided to make the building 18 feet tall. They also added a small tower, called a cupola, on top. By December 1823, the courthouse was finished. Fourteen workers were paid about $1,255 for their work.
The courthouse is made of brick and has a stone base. It was built in a style called Federal. By the 1970s, its original roof had been replaced with metal. The bricks were made locally and were about 4 by 8 inches in size.
The Chester Academy School
Chester's first school started in 1830. A Scottish teacher named Samuel Halliday helped a lot to get it going. He moved to Chester Township and began teaching local children.
The current three-story school building was built in 1839. The idea was for students from all over Meigs County to attend it. In its early years, this brick school building was used for many community events.
How the School Was Used
The town leaders rented the school for voting. Social groups, like debate clubs and singing classes, met there. Since there were no church buildings in the township, all the local churches held their services in the school.
The building was used as a school until the American Civil War. After the war, the school closed. The building was then used to store things for the courthouse next door.
What Happened Later
The courthouse in Chester was used for county business until Pomeroy became the new county seat. After that, it became a meeting place for a local group called the Grange.
By 1951, the building was empty and not used. But in 1953, a group called the Meigs County Pioneer and Historical Society started a project to fix it up.
In 1975, the courthouse and the school were both added to the National Register of Historic Places. They were recognized for their special architecture and their important role in Ohio's history. Today, the Chester-Shade Historical Association runs both buildings as a museum.
The Old Meigs County Courthouse is the oldest building in Ohio that was built to be a courthouse and is still standing. It is one of only two original Federal-style courthouses left in the state. The other is the Old Perry County Courthouse in Somerset.
