Morgan County Courthouse
Erection completed 1890 at the cost of $19,000 to replace the countys second courthouse, which burned on this site in 1887.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Law Enforcement • Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1890.
Location. 38° 25.883′ N, 92° 50.489′ W. Marker is in Versailles, Missouri, in Morgan County. It is on East Newton Street just east of South Monroe Street, on the right when traveling east. The marker is on the right side of the north/front courthouse entrance. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 100 East Newton Street, Versailles MO 65084, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Missouri River Corridor. It is also in the American Midwest, in the Lewis & Clark Corridor, and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of
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Other nearby markers. At least 3 other markers are within 14 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Morgan County (a few steps from this marker); The History of the Johnny Appleseed Tree (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Mulholland Station (approx. 13½ miles away).
Regarding Morgan County Courthouse. National Register of Historic Places № 80002383.
From the National Register Nomination prepared by Launa Jones, 9/20/1979:
Morgan County Courthouse, is a two-story red brick interpretation of the Second Empire Style. Its rectangular plan is capped by a truncated, shingle-faced, hipped roof and is highlighted with projecting, pedimented pavilions to the north and south, which enclose the building's main entrances, and four mansarded corner pavilions of three stories each. These corner pavilions feature standing seam tin roofs.The most arresting feature of the exterior of the courthouse is its cupola with decorative details articulated in cast iron, molded tin and wood. It is capped by a cloister vaulted dome faced with asphalt shingles. Below, the four corner pavilions are adorned with projecting, flat-roofed dormers on each of their outer faces. The embellishment of the main body of the courthouse is confined to the articulation in brick of corbeled courses below the cornices, and to pilasters and round and segmental window arches. The brick voussoirs of these arches are highlighted with white paint and visually stabilized by the addition of limestone sills and keystones. Galvanized guttering, painted white, forms cornices above the first and second floor levels. Morgan County Courthouse is significant as the local seat of county government which has stood for 90+ years, a civic symbol to the local citizenry. In addition, it is the finest architectural example in the small town of Versailles, Missouri and in all rural Morgan County.
From 1833 to 1835, before Versailles had been chosen as the permanent seat of Morgan County's government, the farm of Mr. Josiah Walton, located 6 miles southeast of town at a site known as Millville, served as the temporary county seat. In 1844 a small two-story building of locally made brick was erected in the center of the public square, replacing the first log building as the courthouse. William Burch and Colonel Young of Jefferson City were its builders. In 1886-1887 Versailles was hit by two devastating fires, and the brick courthouse was destroyed. In 1888 voters approved a $15,000 appropriation for the construction of a new courthouse in a special election. This, with the $4,000 insurance payment from the building which burned, provided the $19,000 required to construct the present building. By May 7, 1888 William Schrange, the architect and superintendent for the construction of the new courthouse, submitted the plans and specifications to the county court for its approval. The actual construction was in charge of Hiram Griffith of Sedalia who was aided by local carpenters and bricklayers. The bricks used in the courthouse were manufactured by inmates of the Missouri State Penitentiary in Jefferson City. One brick, beneath the south window of the recorder's office, is inscribed "J.L. Morrison, Warden" bearing witness to this.
The Morgan County Courthouse has always been a local center of activity for civic, library, community and women's groups, and it is the only architectural example approaching monumental style in the county. For many years, the offices of the Versailles Leader were in the east basement and those of the Versailles Statesman, its rival, in the west.
Also see . . .
1. Morgan County Courthouse (Wikipedia).
Excerpt: Morgan County Courthouse is a historic courthouse located in Versailles, Morgan County, Missouri. It was built in 1889 and is a two-story, Second Empire style red brick building on a limestone block foundation. It measures 85 feet by 85 feet. It features an aediculated cupola with decorative details articulated in cast iron, molded tin and wood, with four mansarded corner pavilions of three stories each. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.(Submitted on April 13, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
2. Morgan County History (www.morgancountymo.gov).
Excerpt: In 1836, Morgan County's first courthouse in the frontier town of Versailles, Missouri was a log building that was purchased and reconstructed on the square. It remained there in service until 1843, when it was removed in favor of a more permanent building. The county's second courthouse, built in 1844, was a rectangular, two-story, brick building. After more than forty years of continuous use, the voters agreed to build a third courthouse, but in 1887, while the new building was under construction,(Submitted on April 13, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)the old building was destroyed by fire.Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 24, 20253. Morgan County Courthouse Renovation Marker(on left side of courthouse entrance)
Morgan County Courthouse
Renovation Project completed 1986
cost $383.661.56It took a judge's ruling in 1889 to clear the way for construction to proceed on the county's present courthouse in Versailles. A court case developed when the courthouse bond issue election created a major question about the interpretation of a state statute. One group of citizens argued that the two-thirds majority, which the law required, applied to the total number of eligible voters in the county. Another group of voters claimed that a two-thirds majority of those who actually voted in the election was sufficient. The judge sided with those who thought that two-thirds of actual voters settle the issue. After the legal challenge was resolved, the county could issue the bonds that had been passed by the voters, and construction of the present courthouse went forward.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 13, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 12, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 16 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on April 13, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
