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"Cities, Towns & Countryside"
4th Annual Preservation Week 2002 Photo-Essay Competition
Third Place: Harry Erskine
9th Grade, Bowling Green High School
Bowling Green, Kentucky
Title: The Old Courthouse, Bowling Green:
"Welcome to Bowling Green" says the old courthouse on Tenth Street. Many people do not know the old courthouse was not the first, or the second ever built in Bowling Green ; in fact it was the third. The first courthouse was built in 1797-1798 and was used for the first time March 6, 1798. The second courthouse was built in 1805. The third was not built until 1868-1869. It was built in place of the first two courthouses. The original plan was to pull down several buildings between tenth and the square to make a mall or at least a vista, towards the courthouse. This however was not done. The architect of the courthouse was D. J. Williams. When this building was completed it was considered to be the most handsome and most costly courthouse in Kentucky, except for the one in Louisville for Jefferson County. The cost of construction exceeded $125,000.
Following World War II it became apparent that the courthouse needed to be rebuilt or replaced. In view of this, a fund of $140,000.00 was accumulated. Consulting engineers and architects stated that due to its strong and fine construction, the building could successfully be renovated and modernized according to the standards of the time. Fiscal Court floated a bond issue of $300,000.00. Leo C. Miller Company of Louisville received a contract of the actual construction at a bid of $407,000.00. Otis & Grimes of Louisville were employed as architects. All new equipment and furnishings were purchased for the interior. The work commenced in 1957, and the courthouse held an "open house" on October 10, 1958. Everyone in Warren County seemed to be pleased and proud that this handsome example of Greek revival architecture of red brick, ornamented with solid, hand-carved, Corinthian columns of white stone had been preserved and restored to its original beauty. To this day, the courthouse is still in use. Busy Department of Motor Vehicles workers are doing their job every day. Bowling Green has built a new courthouse but the charm and stateliness of the old courthouse will always remain standing on Tenth Street.
This essay and photograph(s) are the property of Preservation Kentucky, Inc. and Kentucky Heritage Council and that any use of the photo or essay must be approved by PK and KHC. |
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