Belmont County Courthouse
Encyclopedia
The Belmont County Courthouse is located at 101 West Main Street in St. Clairsville
, Ohio
. It sits on the highest point in the St. Clairsville area and is thus visible from Interstate 70
and many other points in the Ohio Valley. It is a contributing property
in the St. Clairsville Historic District
, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in
1969
.
was formed in 1801 and the county seat was Pultney, now called Shadyside
. This courthouse was a simple two-story brick building. The courthouse was only used for a few years until the county seat was removed to the more central St. Clairsville.
St. Clairsville was a developing community along the National Road
and the courthouse was planned along this road. This 1805 courthouse constructed was a log structure standing two-stories high and cost the county just over $1,000. When this building was destroyed a new courthouse rose from its site. This new building was made of brick in the popular Federal style in 1815. The courthouse stood two-stories high with long rectangular windows lining the facade. A cupola rose from the pitched roof and would serve the county until 1885.
The new courthouse built between 1885–1888, was designed by noted Ohio (and later New York) architect, Joseph W. Yost
, who also designed the similar Miami County Courthouse
built at the same time in Troy
. The three floor Second Empire building hosts many county functions such as three courtrooms, the county commission meeting room, as well as offices for county officials.
and a frieze
bearing the year "1886" in the center with a fanlight above. The central projection is topped with a pediment with a circle light framed by a carved wreath of flags. Standing guard over the entrance is a statue of Justice.
The rest of the facade on either side of the central projection is symmetrical, with three arched windows on each floor and out-thrust corners. The corner projections contain a single arched window with Doric pilasters on the second floor and Corinthian pilasters on the third. The corners are topped by a pediment with a tower which contains Doric pilasters and arched pediments. The top of each tower is crowned with an urn.
A central tower housing a clock tower and dome rises from the mansard roof. The tower contains high arched windows, Corinthian pilasters, and a small lantern. A steel bell weighing 3,800 lbs once hung from the tower but was taken down during restoration and now rests in front of the courthouse. It rang continuouly for an hour in 1945 to celebrate the end of World War II.
in the summer and the public christmas tree
in the winter.
The second floor used to be the main floor and shows evidence of this past. In the atrium is an information desk, staffed during business hours. The deed office is located down the hall.
The third floor contains the since covered dome, now illuminated by surrounding lights. This floor also houses the courtrooms. When the courthouse first opened there were three courtrooms, but the third has since been converted into the county law library.
An attic above cannot be easily accessed and houses the old bell tower and the protruding hump of the dome. The attic has since been turned into file storage for the expanding court records.
St. Clairsville, Ohio
St. Clairsville is a city in Belmont County, Ohio in the United States. It is part of the Wheeling, West Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 5,057 at the 2000 census. This county seat of Belmont County has been nicknamed "Paradise on the Hill." St. Clairsville was named after...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. It sits on the highest point in the St. Clairsville area and is thus visible from Interstate 70
Interstate 70
Interstate 70 is an Interstate Highway in the United States that runs from Interstate 15 near Cove Fort, Utah, to a Park and Ride near Baltimore, Maryland. It was the first Interstate Highway project in the United States. I-70 approximately traces the path of U.S. Route 40 east of the Rocky...
and many other points in the Ohio Valley. It is a contributing property
Contributing property
In the law regulating historic districts in the United States, a contributing resource or contributing property is any building, structure, or object which adds to the historical integrity or architectural qualities that make the historic district, listed locally or federally, significant...
in the St. Clairsville Historic District
St. Clairsville Historic District
The St. Clairsville Historic District is located in downtown St. Clairsville, Ohio, United States. The historic district contains buildings built during the Victorian era. The Belmont County Courthouse, St. Clairsville Municipal Building, and the Clarendon Hotel are some of the most notable...
, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in
1969
.
History
Belmont CountyBelmont County, Ohio
Belmont County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. It is part of the Wheeling, West Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 70,400. Its county seat is St. Clairsville...
was formed in 1801 and the county seat was Pultney, now called Shadyside
Shadyside, Ohio
Shadyside is a village in Belmont County, Ohio, United States, along the Ohio River. It is part of the Wheeling, West Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. This courthouse was a simple two-story brick building. The courthouse was only used for a few years until the county seat was removed to the more central St. Clairsville.
St. Clairsville was a developing community along the National Road
National Road
The National Road or Cumberland Road was the first major improved highway in the United States to be built by the federal government. Construction began heading west in 1811 at Cumberland, Maryland, on the Potomac River. It crossed the Allegheny Mountains and southwestern Pennsylvania, reaching...
and the courthouse was planned along this road. This 1805 courthouse constructed was a log structure standing two-stories high and cost the county just over $1,000. When this building was destroyed a new courthouse rose from its site. This new building was made of brick in the popular Federal style in 1815. The courthouse stood two-stories high with long rectangular windows lining the facade. A cupola rose from the pitched roof and would serve the county until 1885.
The new courthouse built between 1885–1888, was designed by noted Ohio (and later New York) architect, Joseph W. Yost
Joseph W. Yost
Joseph W. Yost was a prominent architect from Ohio whose works included many courthouses and public buildings. Yost & Packard was a partnership in which he worked.-Early life:...
, who also designed the similar Miami County Courthouse
Miami County Courthouse and Power Station
The Miami County Courthouse is an historic building in Troy, Ohio, United States. Built in 1885, it was designed by noted Ohio architect, Joseph W. Yost, who also designed the similar Belmont County Courthouse built at the same time in St. Clairsville. It has high arched windows, Corinthian...
built at the same time in Troy
Troy, Ohio
* - Sports :In addition to Troy High School athletics, Troy is home to the Miami Valley Silverbacks indoor football team of the Continental Indoor Football League....
. The three floor Second Empire building hosts many county functions such as three courtrooms, the county commission meeting room, as well as offices for county officials.
The Courthouse
The three story building is constructed of rusticated sandstone blocks with high arched windows. The building is rectangular with a central projection housing the entrance. The stairs once led to the main entrance, but due to security measures the building is now entered through a tunnel under the stairs. Above the stairs is a false balcony supported by Corinthian columns. A pair of arched windows are flanked by a set of Corinthian pilasters supporting a pedimentPediment
A pediment is a classical architectural element consisting of the triangular section found above the horizontal structure , typically supported by columns. The gable end of the pediment is surrounded by the cornice moulding...
and a frieze
Frieze
thumb|267px|Frieze of the [[Tower of the Winds]], AthensIn architecture the frieze is the wide central section part of an entablature and may be plain in the Ionic or Doric order, or decorated with bas-reliefs. Even when neither columns nor pilasters are expressed, on an astylar wall it lies upon...
bearing the year "1886" in the center with a fanlight above. The central projection is topped with a pediment with a circle light framed by a carved wreath of flags. Standing guard over the entrance is a statue of Justice.
The rest of the facade on either side of the central projection is symmetrical, with three arched windows on each floor and out-thrust corners. The corner projections contain a single arched window with Doric pilasters on the second floor and Corinthian pilasters on the third. The corners are topped by a pediment with a tower which contains Doric pilasters and arched pediments. The top of each tower is crowned with an urn.
A central tower housing a clock tower and dome rises from the mansard roof. The tower contains high arched windows, Corinthian pilasters, and a small lantern. A steel bell weighing 3,800 lbs once hung from the tower but was taken down during restoration and now rests in front of the courthouse. It rang continuouly for an hour in 1945 to celebrate the end of World War II.
Grounds
A memorial stands to the right of the building in honor of the veterans who served in the various wars. The courthouse tower bell sits in the northern courtyard and the bicentennial bell sits in the southern courtyard. A brick building to the right used to house local government, but now houses one of many Sheriff's Posts. The southern portion of the lot consists of a series of stairs with the main landing the site of the local farmers' marketFarmers' market
A farmers' market consists of individual vendors—mostly farmers—who set up booths, tables or stands, outdoors or indoors, to sell produce, meat products, fruits and sometimes prepared foods and beverages...
in the summer and the public christmas tree
Christmas tree
The Christmas tree is a decorated evergreen coniferous tree, real or artificial, and a tradition associated with the celebration of Christmas. The tradition of decorating an evergreen tree at Christmas started in Livonia and Germany in the 16th century...
in the winter.
Interior
The interior first floor corridors are lined in tile mosaic forming geometric shapes. The courtrooms and county offices have been refitted with modern conveniences, like an elevator, central air and heating, as well as weather-proof windows. A new metal detector purchased on a state grant protects the many county employees within.The second floor used to be the main floor and shows evidence of this past. In the atrium is an information desk, staffed during business hours. The deed office is located down the hall.
The third floor contains the since covered dome, now illuminated by surrounding lights. This floor also houses the courtrooms. When the courthouse first opened there were three courtrooms, but the third has since been converted into the county law library.
An attic above cannot be easily accessed and houses the old bell tower and the protruding hump of the dome. The attic has since been turned into file storage for the expanding court records.
Courthouse Annexes
There are three courthouse annexes, as follows:- St. ClairsvilleSt. Clairsville, OhioSt. Clairsville is a city in Belmont County, Ohio in the United States. It is part of the Wheeling, West Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 5,057 at the 2000 census. This county seat of Belmont County has been nicknamed "Paradise on the Hill." St. Clairsville was named after...
: 147 West Main Street in St. Clairsville, west of the main complex. This building houses the offices of the prosecuting attorney and the Western Division County Court. - BellaireBellaire, OhioBellaire is a village in Belmont County, Ohio, United States. It is part of the Wheeling, West Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 4,278 at the 2010 census. The village is located along the Ohio River...
: 400 West 26th Street, Suite 100. This building houses the Eastern Division County Court. - Martins FerryMartins Ferry, OhioDuring the census of 2000, there were 7,226 people, 3,202 households, and 1,959 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,345.1 people per square mile . There were 3,680 housing units at an average density of 1,703.6 per square mile...
: 401 Walnut Street. This building houses the Northern Division County Court.
Further reading
- Thrane, Susan W., County Courthouses of Ohio, Indiana University Press, Indianapolis, Indiana 2000 ISBN 0-253-33778-8
- Marzulli, Lawrence J., The Development of Ohio's Counties and Their Historic Courthouses, Gray Printing Company, Fostoria, Ohio 1983
- Stebbins, Clair, Ohio's Court Houses, Ohio State Bar Association, Columbus, Ohio 1980