Morgantown in Monongalia County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)
Courthouse Square
Monongalia County
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), May 24, 2019
1. Courthouse Square Marker
Inscription.
Courthouse Square. Monongalia County. Named for the Monongalia River, Monongalia County was established in 1776. With the formal recognition of the Mason-Dixon line in 1783, it was determined that the first meeting place of the county court actually fell within the borders of Pennsylvania, and the court was relocated to the home of Zacquill Morgan. In 1784, a small frame courthouse was erected near the site of the present courthouse square. A new courthouse building replaced this structure in 1802, and in 1848, a fourth courthouse was constructed. The fifth and current courthouse was designed in the Romanesque Revival style by Pittsburgh architect James Baily and was completed in 1891. As the county celebrated its bicentennial in 1976, a new annex to the courthouse was completed., [A timeline runs from Walnut Street south to the marker:] ,
1776 , County established, 1783 , County seat , moved, 1785 , Morgantown , established, 1863 , Statehood, 1867 , WVU , established, 1870 , First gas , street lamps, 1886 , First , passenger , train, 1891 , Courthouse , constructed, 1896 , Seneca Glass , opens, 1941 , Ordnance , Works , constructed, 1976 , County , bicentennial .
Named for the Monongalia River, Monongalia County was established in 1776. With the formal recognition of the Mason-Dixon line in 1783, it was determined that the first meeting place of the county court actually fell within the borders of Pennsylvania, and the court was relocated to the home of Zacquill Morgan. In 1784, a small frame courthouse was erected near the site of the present courthouse square. A new courthouse building replaced this structure in 1802, and in 1848, a fourth courthouse was constructed. The fifth and current courthouse was designed in the Romanesque Revival style by Pittsburgh architect James Baily and was completed in 1891. As the county celebrated its bicentennial in 1976, a new annex to the courthouse was completed.
[A timeline runs from Walnut Street south to the marker:]
Location. 39° 37.782′ N, 79° 57.391′ W. Marker is in Morgantown, West Virginia, in Monongalia County. Marker is on Walnut Street (U.S. 119) west of High Street, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 243 High Street, Morgantown WV 26505, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), May 24, 2019
2. Courthouse Square marker with the timeline showing
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), May 24, 2019
3. Map display nearby
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), May 24, 2019
4. County Seal
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), May 24, 2019
5. Historic Landmark plaque on the building
Photographed By Bradley Owen, April 23, 2021
6. City of Morgantown Founded 1785 Plaque
Date noted on brick sidewalk time-line. Plaque located at the City Office Building, 389 Spruce Street.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 27, 2021. It was originally submitted on May 25, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 180 times since then and 12 times this year. Last updated on July 27, 2020, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on May 25, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 6. submitted on April 24, 2021, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia.