2023 Spring Newsletter

HISTORY OF THE MIAMI COUNTY COURTHOUSE

By: Vincent Thorpe

Back in the mid- 1860s, county records were stored in an old building on the west side of the square. W. G. Rainey, who was the sheriff at that time, new the im portance of these records, planned on building a three story building at the south end of the west side of Park Square. Before starting construction he signed a con tract with the county commissioners to rent seven of fice rooms for the county officials and one large room to be used as a courtroom.

The county bought the land for the new courthouse in 1897. It cost $4100. The builder of the courthouse was chosen to be L.W. Divelbiss of Olathe. The architect was George Washburn of Ottawa. He designed many Kansas county courthouses around the turn of the century. The cost to complete the building was $45000.

The sheriff’s living quarters were on the third floor of the building. Courthouse offices were on the sec ond floor with the first floor being occupied by other businesses and a bowling alley in the basement. This building was begun in 1869 and finished in 1870. The county continued to rent these rooms until Paola’s first school building (that was built in 1865 by S.M. Larkin and closed in 1872) became available. It was also on the south side of the square.

The courthouse was built in the Romanesque style. It has a foundation of Carthage Limestone. The walls are made of fireproof pressed bricks and the roof is black with red slate on the tower and gables. The whole in terior is quarter sawn oak with a natural finish. The

The county commis sioners rented the old school building and lat er bought itfor $8000. Some remodeling had to be done and it was used as the court house until 1898. The old court house was sold at auction by Buckeye Bill (M.E.Thorpe) acting for the county commission ers for $320.00 in 1899. He did the job for free. The purchaser of the building was Gilbert E. Moore.

clocks in the clock tower were donated by Paola Middle School students and installed in 1980. It is truly a beautiful building. The Kansas State Exten sion Marais des Cygnes district Master Gardeners designed and maintain the surrounding gardens in a period appropriate style.

Vincent Thorpe

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