Missouri Courthouses
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Editor’s note
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County: DeKalb
Organized: Feb. 25, 1845
Named after: Baron John DeKalb of Revolutionary War fame
County seat: Maysville
After county organization in 1845, first courts met in homes. In 1848 DeKalb County residents presented a petition to the County Court to build a courthouse, but the court rejected it, preferring to purchase a log cabin on the east side of the public square in Maysville. Three years later a new court looked favorably on building a courthouse and respected the wishes of the petitioners.
In 1851 the court ordered Abram Barger, superintendent, to submit a plan for the courthouse. His original design called for a cupola, but the court considered this an extravagance and eliminated it from the design. The 55-by-30-foot brick courthouse was built by George W. C. McPherson at a cost of approximately $3,750 and completed in 1852 (Figure 1). The porticoed entry faced south; the courtroom and two offices were on the first floor, with additional offices on the second floor. The building was destroyed by fire on Christmas night in 1878.
Figure 1
DeKalb County Courthouse, 1851-1878. (From: An Illustrated Historical Atlas of DeKalb County, Missouri, 1877)
Several communities then contended for the county seat, but Maysville remained the choice of the people. The cornerstone of the next building was laid on Aug. 27, 1885 (Figure 2). It was designed by the St. Joseph architectural firm of Edmond J. Eckel and George R. Mann. Other northwest Missouri courthouses by this important firm include: Nodaway, 1881, Atchison, 1882, and Gentry, 1884. This brick building contained two wide halls on the first floor and a pair of stairs leading to the second floor. The cost of the building was $32,000. The jail in the rear of the building contained eight revolving cells and two rooms for hospital care. The spire of the corner tower was taken off after lightning severely damaged the tower in the early 1900s (Figure 3). The building was razed in 1938 when a new courthouse was built.
Figure 2
DeKalb County Courthouse, 1885-1938. Architects: Eckel and Mann (From: Postcards, Trenton Boyd collection)
Figure 3
DeKalb County Courthouse, 1885-1938 after tower removal. Architects: Eckel and Mann (From: Postcard, Trenton Boyd collection)
Twice propositions for a new courthouse were defeated, but in August 1938 voters approved a $55,000 bond issue, which was matched by a $45,000 government grant. Eckel and Aldrich, St. Joseph, were selected as architects. George R. Eckel was the son of Edmond J. Eckel, architect of the previous courthouse. A contract for about $59,000 was awarded the J. E. Hathman Construction Company in December 1938 for a 110-by-55-foot, brick building trimmed with stone. Limited funds prohibited an all-stone structure. Offices and County Court room were on the first floor, Circuit Court room on the second, the jail and sheriff's quarters on the third. Cornerstone ceremonies were held April 10, 1939. The cornerstone from the old courthouse was placed in the entrance hall of the new. Dedication of the new courthouse took place Oct. 20, 1939 (Figure 4).
Figure 4
DeKalb County Courthouse, 1938-. Architects: Eckel and Aldrich (From: Architecture and Design, volume IV, number 13, July 1940)
Bibliography
Books
- History of Andrew and DeKalb Counties. Chicago: The Goodspeed Publishing Company, 1888.
- Williams, Walter, editor. History of Northwest Missouri, volume I. Chicago: Lewis Publishing Company, 1915
Articles
- "Eckel and Aldrich." Architecture and Design, volume IV, number 13 (July 1940).
- Spiers, Martha. A Series on DeKalb County Courthouses. DeKalb County Heritage, July 1970, July, October 1975, January, April 1976.
Newspapers
- (Maysville) DeKalb County Herald, July 7, 28, Aug. 4, 11, 25, Oct. 20, 1938.
- (Maysville) DeKalb County Record, Aug. 11, 1938; April 6, 13, June 22, July 13, Sept. 21, Oct. 26, 1939.
Manuscript collections
- Work Projects Administration, Historical Records Survey, Missouri, 1935-1942, DeKalb County. Located in Joint Collection: MU, Western Historical Manuscript Collection-Columbia and State Historical Society of Missouri Manuscripts.
Maps, atlases, gazetteers
- An Illustrated Historical Atlas of DeKalb County, Missouri. Philadelphia: Edwards Brothers, 1877.
- Plat Book of DeKalb County, Missouri. [n.p.] Northwest Publishing Company, 1897.
- Standard Atlas of DeKalb County, Missouri. Chicago: George A. Ogle and Company, 1917.