"Historic Places at the Crossroads"

6th Annual Preservation Week 2004 Photo-Essay Competition

Third Place: Amy Erwin

Title: The Marshall County Courthouse

Marshall County, Kentucky came into the family of the Kentucky's counties late. Arthur H. Davis, one of the "Justices of the Peace," came to the county in 1821-1822. Davis bought a quarter section of land at $1.25 per acre near the town of Benton which later became the county seat of Marshall County. In 1842, the court was meeting under an arbor at the Court Square. In 1843, Francis Clayton built the first Courthouse made of only logs. At this time the county seat, Benton, only had a population of a little over one hundred, fifty people. Soon, after they built the courthouse, they realized that it was too small. So, they sold it back to Francis Clayton for $26.00. In 1848, a new courthouse was built where the new one is still standing. This was bought for $6,000.00, and its makers were Thomas McElreth and Louis Henderson. Later, the court issued $14,000 in bonds to build the new courthouse. People weren't very happy with the cost of it, but when it got done they were pleased. It 1914, a fire left only a brick wall standing of the courthouse. The present courthouse has been in use since 1915. It has had several things added to it, though. The latest addition, was a vault that keeps our county's records. On July 17, 1915, the Mayfield Messenger listed items that would be put inside the cornerstone. The things listed were: a brief statement about the county, names of county officers, post offices and postmasters, the amount of taxable property, the number of poll tax payers and voters, the Tribune Democrat and the Harden Enterprise issues about the courthouse fire, a list of workmen on the new building, a picture of the old courthouse, and a horseshoe with the Masonic emblem on it.

The courthouse had many uses. The District and county offices, the jail, the courtroom, as well as the vault were there. The vault in the courthouse held the records and deeds. The "Big Singing" was the oldest musical tradition in the United States. It was also held at the courthouse. On the forth Sunday in May people came from all around at ten o'clock AM, and sang till four o'clock PM. While there they also ate and visited on the courthouse lawn. The history of the courthouse was at a crossroads. There was more space needed for the jail, also. In 2001 the courthouse was again, rebuilt. Everything except for some of the offices and some records were moved to the newest courthouse.

Even though, the old courthouse building only has some offices and records housed in it now, it is still important to us and should be preserved. Since it is the site where all previous courthouses have been located and traditions such as the "Big Singing" have been held, it is an important part of our past. This is something that has been passed down to us from our ancestors. It is also something that future generations can visit and study to learn more about the past and work toward a better future.

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.