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Monroe County Architectural Drawings

and Courthouse Clock

The Monroe County Courthouse located in Woodsfield, Ohio is the fourth courthouse for the County. The original courthouse, a two-story log structure, was built in 1816. In 1829 it was destroyed by fire. A second courthouse was built of brick with wood framing. It too was destroyed by fire in 1867. A third brick structure was once again destroyed in a fire on Jan. 5, 1905.

Construction of the fourth and current courthouse was begun Oct. 6, 1906 and was completed in 1908. The firm of Samuel Hannaford & Sons was the architect. R.H. Evans of Zanesville was the construction contractor. The total cost of the project was $150,000. On July 21, 1980 the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

One of the unique features of the building is the large clock under the dome added in 1908. One of its four faces points to each direction of the compass. The clock was purchased from the Howard Clock Co. of New York for $2,775. It was originally powered by descending weights that had to be wound by hand. In 1947, an electric motor was installed to replace the weights.

Very few people have seen the plans for this magnificent building and fewer still have seen the machinery that operates in the background to provide Woodsfield and the surrounding community the grand old clock that has faithfully served for over a century. Below is a brief history written by Mike Palmer writer for a Times Leader Newspaper in Wheeling, WV. Also, below is an index of photos taken of the Monroe County Courthouse and the Clock Works in June 2012.

Note: Some of these pictures are large and may require a few seconds to download to your computer.

Monroe County Courthouse located in Woodsfield, Ohio

Courthouse architectural design drawings

East Elevation

South Elevation

West Elevation

North Elevation

First Floor Plan

Second Floor Plan

Transverse Section Looking West

(cannot read) Entrance

Detail of North Stairway