Perry County Courthouse (Missouri) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Perry County Courthouse |
|
|---|---|
Perry County Courthouse
|
|
| General information | |
| Location | Perryville, Missouri, USA |
| Address | 15 W Sainte Marie St. |
| Coordinates | 37°43′52″N 89°51′07″W / 37.73111°N 89.85194°W |
| Completed | 1904 |
| Cost | $31,819 (1904 dollars) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architecture firm | Caldwell and Drake, Columbus, Indiana |
| References | |
|
Perry County Courthouse
|
|
| Location | 15 W. Sainte Marie St., Perryville, Missouri |
| Built | 1904 |
| Built by | Caldwell & Drake |
| Architect | Gaddis, John W. |
| Architectural style | Romanesque Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 16000286 |
| Added to NRHP | May 23, 2016 |
The Perry County Courthouse is an important government building in Perryville, Missouri. It serves Perry County, Missouri and is located on the main square in Perryville. This historic building is where many county decisions are made and records are kept.
Contents
Past Courthouse Buildings
Over time, Perry County has had four different buildings for its courts and government. The very first place was a temporary two-story log building. It was used when Perry County was created in 1821.
First Official Courthouse
In 1826, the county built its first official courthouse. This building cost about $1,486. It was the first structure made just for the county's courts. We don't have any pictures of this original building today.
Second Courthouse Building
By 1861, the first courthouse was replaced. A new two-story stone building was constructed. This one cost around $8,000. However, this second building eventually started to fall apart.
Current Courthouse Building
Because the second building was in bad shape, a new one was needed. The third and current courthouse was built in 1903. This brick building cost about $31,819. It is still used by the county today.
History of the Courthouse
In the early days, before Missouri became a state, court meetings happened in people's homes. Sometimes they met in church buildings. By 1821, more people lived in the area. This led to the creation of Perry County.
Choosing a County Seat
After Perry County was formed in 1821, the county court started meeting. Their first meeting was on May 21, 1821, in Bede Moore's home. County officials used a two-story log building for their work. It took some time to build a proper courthouse. This was because people in Perry County also had to help pay for the courthouse in Ste. Genevieve County, where they used to live.
Commissioners were chosen to find the best spot for the county's main town. They picked an area east of a place called the Barrens. This spot was central, had many people, and was on an old road between Ste. Genevieve, Missouri and Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Bernard Layton gave 51 acres of his land for the new county seat. This land became the town of Perryville.
Building the First Courthouse
In 1825, everyone agreed that a more permanent building was needed. So, a contract was made for the first courthouse. The money for this project came from selling 55 plots of land that Bernard Layton had given to the county. This first courthouse was finished in 1826.
The Need for a New Building
By 1859, Perry County was growing. This meant they needed more space for their government work. The court set aside $8,000 to build a new courthouse. John E. Layton was put in charge of the construction. This new two-story building was finished in 1861. It was built on the northeast corner of the town square.
This building was used for many years. But by the early 1900s, reports said it was too old and broken to fix.
Constructing the Current Courthouse
Many county residents signed a petition asking for a vote. On September 1, 1903, voters approved a plan to borrow $30,000 for a new courthouse. Several building plans were submitted in November. The court chose the design from Caldwell and Drake, a company from Columbus, Indiana. They were hired to build the new courthouse.
Construction started in February 1904. A special ceremony for the cornerstone was held on June 4, 1904. The new building was made of red brick and measured 65 by 92 feet. The total cost was $31,819. The county still uses this courthouse for its government and court activities today. In 2016, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized as an important historical site.
Court Activities
The Perry County Courthouse is home to the 32nd Judicial Circuit Court of Perry County. This is where many legal cases are heard and decided.
Courthouse Square Features
The courthouse stands on the main square in Perryville. It has a tall clock tower that chimes. Around the courthouse, there are several interesting things to see:
- A war memorial honoring soldiers.
- A Civil War memorial.
- A "Camino Real" Marker, which points to an old historic road.
- Other historical markers.
The courthouse lawn is also a nice place. It has:
- A brick-paved area.
- Landscaped seating areas.
- Park benches.
- A sundial.
- A directional marker.
- A gazebo.
