Jasper County officials hold re-dedication ceremony for historic courthouse
On a crisp autumn morning, a large crowd gathered in Carthage’s historic town square for the re-dedication of the Jasper County Courthouse, marking 130 years since its completion in 1895.
“Well, 130 years. That’s pretty exciting,” MSSU community historian Brad Belk told NewsTalk KZRG. “In 1895, we christened this great structure, and today we’re enjoying the fruits of their labor. The building has great historical significance. It’s the centerpiece not only in this great city of Carthage, but it’s the centerpiece for Jasper county period. It’s the most historic, greatest building we have. And the architecture style is just crazy fun. I love the Romanesque style. And the use of Carthage limestone is prevalent here. And so, people move and pass, but this structure stays and it’s been a workhorse and a symbol of our community.”
The Romanesque Revival landmark, often called Missouri’s second-most-photographed building, celebrated its return from a multi-year renovation that restored its grandeur while modernizing its facilities.
Located at 302 South Main Street, the courthouse was designed by architect Max A. Orlopp Jr., also known for the Dallas County Courthouse in Texas. Built with local Carthage marble for $100,000, it features north and south facades stretching 133 feet and 8 inches, east and west sides measuring 106 feet and 8 inches, and a clock tower soaring 176 feet. Its turrets, arches, and cornices reflect an era of architectural ambition.
“Since they chose this sort of Romanesque style, the ideal thing is to use a lot of stone and brick, but we really didn’t need to use any brick with the prevalent limestone quarries here,” Belk said. “So, limestone is a beautiful piece to accentuate the structure. This limestone veneer, it lives beyond anybody else. It’s got longevity, it’s got a great look, and it gives that really kind of impressive, stoic look.”
The site carries a storied past. The original 1842 courthouse, a one-story brick structure built for $398.50 by Levi H. Jenkins, was outgrown by a booming population. A two-story replacement in 1854 served as a Civil War hospital before burning during the 1861 Battle of Carthage. Temporary structures sufficed until 1891, when Carthage secured funding over rival Joplin to construct the current seat of county government.
County Clerk Charlie Davis, who led the ceremony, highlighted unique features like the 1916 wrought-iron cage elevator, still operational, while Belk’s keynote traced the courthouse’s legacy. The building has hosted weddings, trials, and elections, anchoring the community through decades of change.
“Anywhere between 20 to 30,000 people here would fill this square up,” Belk said when asked how big of a deal it was when the courthouse was completed in 1895. “And what I think is the most amazing thing is just think if you were riding in a horse and buggy or horse and wagon, and you were from rural Jasper county, a farmer or miner, and you came into town because you got to do business, and you come in on a regular basis or something like that, and you see this thing going up and it’s the biggest thing you’ve ever seen. … I’d like to go back and ask some people what their thoughts were, but I would think it would be mind boggling for them to catch this concept. This building just dwarfs everything here. And the beautiful thing about it is you just see it from miles away. It’s an amazing structure, and we’re so pleased that it’s still preserved and protected.”
County officials joined Davis and Belk for a ribbon-cutting.